CHU NGD A HM
culture Franchises And Branches IN THE SPOTLIGHT THE Instructor CORNER
AUTUMN2010
Creatives &FICTION Upcoming EVENTS AND Announcements
CONTENTS
contents .spotlight 1
cultural classroom techniques . study hall students say the darndest thing . taco bell tuesdays
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5 .creatives 21 .events 25
what’s down in ptown? . what’s hot in kpop? interview with jon mains . chuseok?
art: triptych . short story: faint . puzzle: playing fair
kick to step . battle of the bands . places & spaces: jazz . makgeolli fest
Project Manager Editor-in-Chief & Designer Travis Stewart Andrew Kim Special thank you to all of the contributors who made this quarter’s issue of the CULTURE possible!
features
For future inquiries regarding the CULTURE, please contact facultylink@chungdahm.com. Thank you!
10 Rafting Reflection 2010 15 Know Your Peoples 18
World Knowledge Forum an opportunity to attend discussions held by prestigious and world...
I started my dreaded journey at 6 a.m. battling the heat and rain of... online social networking is like smoking cigarettes. one of the reason...
Using Culturally Relevant Examples in the Classroom by luiz bravim (daejon) The majority of instructors at Chungdahm are Westerners. The students they teach are Korean. Still, the cultural gap that exists between student and teacher can be narrowed by using engaging, relevant examples in the classroom. Though the idea of culturally relevant examples is logical to veterans, each term a deluge of new teachers arrive with a blank slate on Korean culture. There is no substitute for living in a country and learning from everyday experience. The need for appropriate illustrations does not come gradually. It is there from Day One. In a 13-week term, maximizing learning opportunities is vital. Several weeks ago, I taught a lesson on the Harlem Renaissance for a Birdie Listening class. Aside from the odd musical prodigy, few of our students have deep knowledge on innovative musicians like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. A bit of knowledge on Korean music is invaluable for such a lesson. If the students feel they have a stake in the learning process, they will make deeper connections within the classroom. For an 11 year old girl who has never left Korea, the groundbreaking nature of Louis Armstrong on the American music scene of the 30s and 40s is entirely lost. For all she knows, Louis Armstrong is the instructor next door. With carefully planned illustrations, the background knowledge foreigners take for granted can be transferred more readily to the students.
As ludicrous as it sounds, valid comparisons can be made to traditional Korean folk music, G-Dragon, Girls Generation, or Wonder Girls. Most classes will be familiar with the names and more likely to retain the information in the future if they have at least some familiarity with the lesson content. It does not take university courses, days of research, or high-level language skills for instructors to learn tidbits on Korean culture. For music, there are websites galore such as http://www.koreanmusictv.com and YouTube. For dramas and movies, there are videos available in every major city as well as online sources. Young Koreans are generally very enthusiastic about their culture. K-Pop has steadily gained influence in greater Asia and much of the West. Talking to natives with genuine curiosity and an open mind yields useful information. Of course, there is always the possibility of overkill. Not every lesson lends itself to ‘fun’ examples. With those that do, it can be easy to get off topic and turn a lesson on the Harlem Renaissance into an unstructured debate on the merits of various boy bands. The successful merger of culturally relevant examples with high-quality instruction takes work. It is not something that can be mastered in one lesson or even one term. But for instructors with the savvy to try, the benefits of extra effort can be outstanding. 1
FBranchise spotlight
SPOTLIGHT
Study Hall
by tolani ogunyoku (seodaemun)
Our branch will be instituting a voluntary study hall at the beginning of November. The class will be held a total of six times a month and is designed to build student’s skills in key areas of class. The three classes will be broken up by level (EC, ME, and IE). The skills will focus on reading comprehension, listening and notetaking, grammar, vocabulary as well as building fluency. The classes are supposed to be a stress free time where students can go to really learn how to excel at CDI. The staff, students, and parents are excited about the new class, and we expect large turnouts next month.
Students Say the Darndest Things by julie yoon (pyeongchon)
When I was in first grade, for no particular reason, I asked my teacher, “Mrs. Pima, did you run away from your husband?” Mrs. Pima was divorced. I had no idea about the embarrassing nature of the question that I was asking, and how uncomfortable my teacher must have felt in coming up with a response. Most students at Pyeong Chon Chungdahm are not naiive as I was. They are older, wiser, and sassier. In fact, they often quip their instructors with creative responses and quick comebacks. One such student in my Bridge Listening class once answered, “Fire in the hole!!” when I asked him, “Where else do we see fireworks?” The same student also criticized the other group’s CTP presentation, accusing them of
“Over-action! You did Hollywood-action!” Holly Rhoades told me of a bizarre question from a student in her Memory Tera class. “Do you have nail clippers?” And after completing a review test, one student in Billy Monette’s class exclaimed, “BOO YEAH, ACHIEVED!” Grace Hong once expectantly asked her student, “So, what is the first major detail in this passage?” Her student looked down and replied, “I have the right to remain silent.” When the ever-so-engaging Jonathan Mains told his student, “Student, pay attention!” His student replied, “Mains, I’m attentioning!” Jason Cha is very encouraging, but sometimes his students outmaneuver his efforts. “Class, please do your online 2
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SPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT
homework. It’s very frustrating for your teacher since he wants to win the end-ofthe-term pizza party. I need my pizza!” he said to his class. One student countered, “Teacher, we don’t do our online homework because of your stomach. It’s too big. Pizza is not good for you.” In an ILB class on Love, Chris Heron asked one student how he would react if F(x) [the group] came in to teach the class. The student replied, “I would clean everything!” We all know that LaToya Graham’s hairstyle changes every week. One week, a charmingly audacious student blurted out, “Ms. Toya, your hair looks like earthworms!” Sometimes, students can’t help but say the darndest things. And as instructors, we can’t help but love them for it.
Taco Bell Tuesdays
by michelle tran (dongjak)
Since the start of the term, there have been changes taking place all across Chungdahm, but Dongjak Branch has especially had a lot to adjust to. In addition to the new class guide prep system, we have a new branch manager, a new faculty manager, new students coming in every week, and five incoming faculty members to cover for five veterans who have gone. With so many adjustments to the old system, there is no same old same old. All the things that took me six months to get used to have essentially become obsolete, and the dynamic of the entire team has shifted drastically. But do the newcomers keep themselves, while the veterans keep doing what they’ve been doing? No. Thanks to our faculty
manager, Timmy Chang, we as a branch have begun a new tradition. Taco Bell Tuesdays. It started with a casual invitation, one rainy Tuesday night. The first week was hectic, as usual, and just about everybody needed an opportunity to de-stress. It was decided that nothing could be better than talk over a greasy burrito. In a rush to beat the clock— because Taco Bell closes at a miserably early 11:00P.M.—our staff boarded a bus eager for a taste of true America. On the way, we discussed new students, new classes, and received feedback from teachers who had experiences with such kids. And from there the talk moved onto other things like where we grew up, what kind of music we liked, and our personal experiences. Slowly, we were getting to know more about each other outside of work, rather than just as fellow co-workers. In such a casual setting, it was no surprise how easy it was to open up. The FM 3
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students say...
SPOTLIGHT
was also no longer a boss. He became a sympathizer who had gone through the same experiences and could offer feedback and advice, as well as his own unique perspective. It wasn’t intended to become a regular thing, but the next Tuesday the invitation was extended again. New faculty members joined, others left to go home. Irregardless of number, the result was ultimately the same—more discussion about classes and more
opportunities to get to know each other. Taco Bell Tuesdays is in its tenth week running. Even with Chuseok and an early morning start, even with typhoon warnings and flooded streets, Dongjak faculty was found at Taco Bell taking up three tables and making lots of noise.
If your branch or franchise is doing anything new to build the fellowship among teachers or confidence among students, please send a message to: facultylink@chungdahm.com.
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taco bell tuesdays
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what’s down in ptown? by nikki pena (pyeongchon)
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that’s filled to the brim with families with the bonus of more greenery and clean air. As for the fear of a dismal social life, most will find that fear to be quickly put out. What people find there is a huge a family of over 40 instructors with big personalities from different walks in life: There’s a bunch of Canadians, West Coasters, Kyopos, a sprinkle of Mid-Westerners, a growing number of people from Jersey (fist-pump), and the list goes on. We may be one of the larger branches, yet it doesn’t feel that way because we do things together outside of work that bring us closer. Most recently, the women at our branch had a “Ladies’ Night” where we had a very satisfying dinner at Mercados in Apgujeong, which left many of us in a slight food coma. But that was quickly alleviated when we later made our way to Hongdae to dance the night away. Not too long ago, we had a Hwae-shik at an outdoor barbeque house where we all sat at picnic tables and shared stories of students and adventures we had after working hours. We got to know our new instructors better and we had good laughs when our in-house comedians, Alex Winters and Bryan Bucco,
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It’s Friday afternoon and Pyeongchon Central Park is scattered with families taking advantage of the cool, crisp autumn weather. It’s quite the sight: Kids are running about in random patterns, mothers are on their picnic blankets waiting patiently for their children to come back for a snack, and elderly people occupy the benches while they quietly people watch. The water fountain displays are on and the soothing sound of water mingles with the cacophony of the park go-ers’ voices. These are the sights and sounds that greet many Pyeongchon instructors as they make their quotidian walk to work at Hagwon-ga. This image, somewhat comforting for some us, reminds us that despite that we are far from our respective homes, we know that at the end of our walk to work, we will find our makeshift family there. When most people hear about Pyeongchon or that they’re going to be placed there, they think of the suburbs and the boonies (which is somewhat true since Pyeongchon does mean “village” in Korean) or fear that their social lives will take a drastic plunge since it’s not in Seoul proper. Yet, they couldn’t be more wrong: It’s a bustling city
what’s down in ptown?
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presented the Superlatives Awards to some of us. Every week, we have our rituals after work where we bond together: Trivia night and Poker night on Wednesdays, Family Mart night on Thursday, baseball for some of us on Saturdays, and the list goes on. Moments and events like these help most of us forget about homesickness and adapt better to our new surroundings. What does the word, “family,” mean to you? It seems that the meaning of it changes with each experience, stages of personal growth, and the people we meet and what we share with them. At Pyeonchon, most of us find that “family” isn’t always a group of people who share the same blood, but the people who you allow to become a part of your life. We may be far from other branches, but if you ask any “Ptowner” what they like most about their branch, they’d most likely say, “the people there.”
what’s hot in kpop? by joe chung (dongjak)
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Greetings! Let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Joseph Chung and I have been an avid listener and fan of Korean music for many years. As English teachers, we have been exposed to the unique culture of Korean music with the help of our students. Considering its small history, Korean popular music, or K-Pop as it’s called, has evolved very quickly and is now loved by many people all over the world. Being someone who keeps up with the latest
trends in K-Pop and its sub-cultures, it is still amazing to see how much K-Pop has expanded into many different genres, not just the candy pop that seems to always have a lasting impression on those who come in contact with Korean music. So, to start things off, I would like to introduce to you the girl group 2NE1 and their latest hit album. 2NE1 stands out because of their eccentric style as well as their great music. They hail from one of the top three entertainment companies—YG Entertaimment—and they consist of four members: CL, Sandara Park, Bom, and Minzy. On September 9th, 2NE1 released their first full-length album titled, “To Anyone,” which is a play on words with the name of their group. After releasing their self-titled mini-album with the catchy title song, “I Don’t Care,” their popularity has skyrocketed. Also, other songs to check out are “Please Don’t Go,” a great dance song,
what’s hot in kpop?
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“You and I,” a sweet and cute R&B tune, “Let’s Go Party,” “Kiss,” and “Pretty Boy.” With a year hiatus, “To Anyone” comes with a much harder and unique sound compared to their earlier songs. For starters, “박수쳐” (Clap Your Hands), being one of their three title tracks, literally makes you want to clap what your momma gave you. With its hard-hitting beat, it will make you want to bob your head. In addition, the song is complimented well with an electronically synthesized rift. Next, “Go Away,” which has an upbeat tempo with an alternative feel, the lyrics detail the hurt and anger towards the mistreatment from an ex-lover. Lastly, their third title song is “Can’t Nobody.” This song has a house/techno-like beat with a synthesized melody and a lot of drum and bass that pump hard and fast into your ears. Overall, this album was long awaited and it does not disappoint. Some other songs to check out are “난 바빠” (I’m Busy), “아파 (Slow)” (I’m Hurt (Slow)), “사랑은 아야야” (Love is Pain), and songs from each member. With a few listens, you will catch yourself wanting to listen to the album again and again while singing along. 2NE1 will definitely leave a lasting impression with their original and unique sound.
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**Picture Credits: YesAsia.com
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01. Can’t Nobody 02. Go Away 03. 박수쳐 04. 난 바빠 05. 아파 (SLOW) 06. 사랑은 아야야 07. YOU AND I 08. PLEASE DON’T GO 09. KISS 10. 날 따라 해봐요 11. I DON’T CARE (Reggae Mix) 12. Can’t Nobody (English Version)
interiew with jon mains
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by sydney langford (pyeongchon)
And this definitely holds true. One day, I read a branch newsletter that was posted up in a classroom, and Mr. Mains was featured as a star teacher. One student quote read: “I like Mr. Mains because he makes me feel good.” (Enjoyment=achieved. We must learn his ways.) Mains enlightens me about his expertise in getting students to partake in class discussions (including the oh-so-interesting ones). Mains, like any of us, enjoys having a class that is somewhat into the material so that they want to discuss it as much as he wants them to. Finding ANY glimmer of interest in their minds and then expanding on it is one way Mains sparks up conversation. “Not only am I asking questions about things to say, but they are talking with each other about the topic and really thinking and developing opinions on their own,” he says. Oh how I wish it were just that simple this first term… Mr. Mains has literally given me tips on how to converse with students. As one of Mains’ coworkers, I believe the ‘newbies’ are especially fortunate to have such an experienced instructor around. “I think that a lot of people ask me for help or even look to me for some guidance with teaching because I’ve taught [the lessons] so many times before. And I look forward to helping other instructors. I know what it’s like to be there at the beginning and not know what’s going on,” he explains. Although I could go on about the ways Mains advanced from a “B-rated to A-rated teacher to the HI,” that’s not the key to working at CDI. We may not have the years of experience as Mr. Mains, but we can surely strive to approach the job as he has, regardless of how long we plan to remain at expat status. The quality of his flow in the classroom, along with his stellar knowledge of the ins-andouts of CDI has given Mains a reputation that 1-year instructors can only hope to achieve.
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I may be making assumptions, but it’s likely that many Chungdahm instructors applied, interviewed for, and received positions with the intention of staying a year and then moving on to… ‘whatever else is next.’ Sounds familiar to me. Perhaps it’s only when we get here and take a good look around at the lifestyle we’ve entered that this time-stamped mentality dissipates a bit. Might not happen to everyone, but this certainly happened for me when I arrived at Pyeongchon and found myself immersed in what seemed like a branch of Chungdahm Super-Veterans. And one in particular, who is so popular at PTown that he may as well have tenure, has sparked an interest to take advantage of more than just 1 year of this [add your own fun adjective here] job. So, how long has Mr. Mains worked at CDI? “Well, including the term break, carry the five… minus the three… three years and six months.” (And yes, this IS long enough to make it okay for him to have his own customized Mr. Mains stamp. True story. Interview is off to a great start.) The time spent with CDI isn’t the only thing that motivated me to chat with Mr. Mains, though. There’s something more that makes him stand out. How, precisely, does one go about actually receiving the “Mr.” or “Ms.” title at Chungdahm (or any academy for that matter)? I mean, [First name] Teacher is what the students seem to think is appropriate. (Sydney Teacher. That is my name. It’s really fun referring to myself in the third person.) However, this is not the case for Jonathan Mains. With the simple addition of MISTER to his name, he has earned Pyeongchon Respect—from students and instructors alike. Mains feels as though he is more than just a “babysitter” for his students. “I believe they really look up to me for enjoying learning, rather than just learning,” he says.
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chuseok? by joseph frederick (ilsan)
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1) Take the day and do some sightseeing. As Chuseok fell on a Wednesday, it was very tempting to opt to stay in, prepping, studying, or cleaning. However, Chuseok is the perfect day to
do some sightseeing. Gyeongbokgung Palace is free of charge on Chuseok, and it is located in a bustling neighborhood right next to the U.S. embassy. My friends and I arrived there around noon. It was not very crowded, and it was a great experience— the weather was nice, and you could watch locals practice traditional games and Korean actors marching in traditional garb. Our other options included a river cruise on the Han River, a historic Korean village at Suwon, and a hiking trip on one of the many trails around Seoul. The only downside? Since many families were in transit, the bus was full of crying kids! 2) Try something new. One of my favorite restaurants was closed for Chuseok, so a few friends from work and I decided to try a new place near Gyeongbokgung Palace, on Gwanghwanmun Square. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was a good change of scenery. 3) Have a traditional Korean meal. The head instructor at our branch knows a local restaurant owner, and we were able to go there for dinner. Be sure you know what you’re getting into, as the meal we had was a little spicy. However, the experience (and conversation) that we shared with our host and his family was more than worth it. In conclusion, although my article was a bit late, hopefully it will come in handy next year!
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Like many new teachers, I first heard about the Korean holiday of Chuseok after I arrived and started working. Chuseok is a harvest festival, originally created to celebrate the previous summer’s successful crop. Chuseok is traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar; due to the use of the lunar calendar, the actual day on which Chuseok is celebrated varies widely; it could fall on any day from September to early October. Traditionally, the siblings from one family would reunite in their hometown, having a meal at the eldest brother’s house. Many of my students were traveling long distances to spend some time with their cousins. If your students haven’t told you already, the days before and after Chuseok are also holidays, although we Chungdahm teachers only get one day off! Being a foreigner in Korea, Chuseok has good and bad aspects. The good aspects, aside from a day off, include more time to explore Korea and hang out with friends. Unfortunately, most places of business, including restaurants, are closed on Chuseok, so it may seem difficult to find things to do. Chuseok has already passed, so my advice might seem rather dated. However, for those of you planning on staying another year, you may find my tips useful.
WKF (1/5)
reene g y n ntho
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An opportunity to attend discussions held by prestigious and world-renowned speakers? To stay at Walker Hill free of charge AND get paid for my time there? Sign me up...twice! While I truly enjoy teaching my classes this term, the chance for a more challenging conversation than the Interactive Listening was too good to pass up. Not only that, but a short break from “Teacher, FINISHED!” wouldn’t hurt my sanity. Walking in for the first time and getting handed that press pass by Travis Stewart felt like a “Welcome to a Fast-Paced, High-Stress Movie Scene.” The buzz of overly-stressed Maeil Business News reporters already filled the press room, and I could feel the pulse of energy in the room. Then again, perhaps I wasn’t entirely lucid; it had been ages since I had to be coherent at 7am. At one point, though, a Maeil Business News employee on the phone shouted “Are you going to take responsibility if this newspaper doesn’t get printed?!” And then I was back to staring wide-eyed at everything, awed at where I was. My first impression of reporting on the news was, “Hey, I’ve taught listening classes. I’m fluent in English. I can even string a few sentences together. Cakewalk!” That impression lasted approximately 1.3 seconds into training. I had no idea what I was in for and certainly wasn’t prepared for the deluge of information thrown at me, much less ready to report properly about it. The first day of the World Knowledge Forum was a repeat of that, except there were no practices
or the nagging thought in my head, “It’s ok if I screw up here, everyone in that training room looks pretty smart, they can go instead of me.” Sitting in the ballroom, amongst seasoned reporters with their professional-looking notepads and pens, I quietly hummed to myself the tune, “One of these things is not like the other.” Rocking my official CDL-appointed voice recorder (yes the very same ones we used for the achievement tests!) and my laptop, I felt like the only digital guy in an analog world. Every session I attended was a unique challenge every time: if the speaker’s speech was wellorganized, then there was too much to include. If the session was disorganized, then presenting the logic was difficult but capturing newsworthy quotes was easier. In the end, I was saved by Glenn May, whose perseverance and eloquence with words could take 5 pages of scattered, disorganized notes and turn it into efficient, newsworthy material. I would have loved to see him teach the Elimination section in Memory English. I suppose that in the end, CDL instructors came uniquely qualified for the job: college graduates used to writing papers one hour from the deadline, native English speakers ready allocate more brainpower to comprehending and focusing on every word. For those of us who teach listening, it was all about clue words, transitions, magic numbers, and patterns of organization. I now have a great retort for the children who groan at 4-minute Eagle Listening lectures: 10
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WKF (2/5) “I spent an hour and a half listening to a speech and wrote an article on it in one hour. At least you get multiple choice!” To any one else who is considering attending next year’s forum, there’s no “A or B?” simplification here: if you have a pulse and you’re a CDL instructor, this is an opportunity that can’t be missed. I got ‘the nod’ from Donald Trump Jr. after he rode the elevator with Xouhoa Ching for the umpteenth time and I’ve never even seen “The Apprentice.” Dust off your writing skill, Q-tip out your earwax, and line up early for next year’s forum in October.
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Teams this. Teams that. I’ve never been too fond of this whole idea of a team, but I chose a path that allowed me to end up here, in South Korea working for Chungdahm. Little did I know that this opportunity to teach amazing, as well as ‘challenging,’ kids led me to discover the true meaning of “team”. I’m not speaking about corporate jargon, but something real and tangible. It all began when my new Faculty Manager, John Blake, immediately notified me of the upcoming WKF. He thought I’d be a great fit and recommended it to me, so I applied for one of the few writing positions. I began working with Travis Stewart, made the first cut, and was invited to be a part of a writing competition in Seoul. I headed to an internal writing competition for three days where I met Glenn May, David Moon, and Steven Tsang beginning the intensive process of writing short, newspaper worthy pieces. First, we wrote reports on Bill gates, who discussed malaria and public education in the U.S., and the 1981 inaugural speech by Ronald Reagan. Steven made it clear that his dad had been a fan of Carter, but he advised, “You are writing like reporters, so keep it objective.” That’s when I knew I wanted to get to know Steve better. As a group of about 20, we pounded out short reports with a time restraint of about 30 minutes. Being used to a night schedule, it was not easy to get up at 7:30A.M. and write concise and sharp pieces running on about 4 hours of sleep. But I wanted to win this competition. On the first day, both Travis Stewart and Glenn May made me want to be a part of this unique writing opportunity. Travis contacted me first, and he turned out to be enormously personable and accommodating. Glenn immediately struck me as a no nonsense guy, the perfect candidate for
WKF (3/5)
It’s 4:00A.M. Wednesday, October 13th. I’m lying awake for no good reason and I have to wake up in an hour to arrive at Walker Hill for the World Knowledge Forum at 7. I can’t sleep because
I’m nervous. Wednesday and Thursday, I’ll be doing stressful work with zero experience in what matters more than anything I’ve done in years. On Friday, I have to transfer all my money to America and then teach two classes, one of which I’ve yet to teach or prep. On Saturday, I fly 16 hours back to Washington, D.C.—home for the first time in 14 months. Why did I decide to do this? I really wish I could teach for the next two days, leisurely get my affairs in order for my trip, and be rested for the flight home. By the way, I arrive in the US on my birthday. It’s 6:30A.M. Wednesday morning and I’m in a taxi. The driver doesn’t know where Walker Hill is and neither do I. I feel my newly acquired paunch (the Korean freshman 15) press up uncomfortably against my belt. Well, the only pair of pants I brought for the next two days doesn’t fit. Like me, my pants aren’t suitable for the job they are about to do. It’s 8:30A.M. Wednesday and I’m drinking coffee with the other CDI WKF staff outside the hotel. Cryn and Anthony are discussing their respective Ph.D. programs at Ivy League schools. Travis, Steven, and Glenn are discussing the trappings of “quantitative easing” and how it’s creating “currency wars” between the US and China. Huh? T minus 90 minutes to show time.
And then the caffeine kicks in…
Take notes, get the quotes… Paul Krugman squirms and fidgets while Niall Ferguson has a smirk that is dripping with British superiority… Coffee… Giant three-headed Tony Blair is scared of the mythical “Chimerica…” that dude with the slicked-back hair has to be Trump Jr… Typing… West to East, West to East, West to East… China’s got the best/most green technology,
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our editor, along with a funny and charming David Moon on our team. The first day ended with a free lunch from Chungdahm. Then, back to Ilsan and the next day more writing, this time a report from a group of panelists. Not easy. Not fun. But I made it through, and enjoyed amazing burritos carnitas from Dos Tacos in the end. There were many reasons why I felt confident that I’d make the final cut, but I did not want to get ahead of myself. Then judgment day, Travis sent me an invitation to join a group of 10 writers to be a part of the 2010 WKF. The writing experience was outstanding, and so was the content—for the most part. For example, I was able to write a report on Tony Blair’s speech, and also a deeply insightful panel about the current currency wars between China and the U.S. In addition, the place was abuzz with wellknown experts. It seemed that every time I found myself in the press room, Fareed Zakaria was there, too. While it was great to be around famous intellectuals, like Paul Krugman, and billionaires, such as Richard Branson, more than anything the experience was worth it because of the amazing people from Chungdahm. It was, indeed, a life changing experience, and I have them to thank for that. What was another great and unexpected surprise? My kids, even my lower-level Bridge students, wanted me to print out my articles for them. Talk about a nice way to be welcomed back to the classroom. Working with a team ain’t so bad after all.
WKF (4/5)
This month, I had the unique opportunity and pleasure to represent CDI at the World Knowledge Forum, held at Walker Hill. Although I did not know much about the WKF when I first read about the opportunity, I am so glad that I was able to participate in this unbelievable gathering of smart, successful, and influential people. The WKF is one of the world’s largest business conferences. It brings top level scholars, business people, entertainment personalities, and thinkers in the worlds of economics, finance, technology and entertainment together to talk about the current state of the world. Through CDI’s partnership with Maeil Business Network (MBN), a handful of CDI teachers were selected to work with members of management and Headquarters as a journalistic team to cover the sessions over a three-day conference. I attended day two and three. From our initial training, I knew that our task would not be easy. We were to take notes, collect quotes, and write press-release summaries for MBN to post on their website while meeting strict deadlines. The sessions ranged from multiple-speaker panels, debates, or individual lectures. I arrived on day two at Walker Hill at 7:15A.M. We were given media passes and had breakfast in the MBN media room. We then toured the conference center, received our reporting schedules, and listened to the keynote speech, delivered by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair via CCTV. The conference accommodations 13
China can stop North Korea’s nuclear program, China’s at war with dollars… is that a girl scout shining Justin’s shoes?... Coffee… Smart Phone, Smart Grid, Smart Car, Smart Chris?...is Xouha stalking The Donald Jr. or is he stalking her?... Take notes, get the quotes, take notes, get the quotes… Coffee... Crossing the line with Bowie and Jagger on a nipply evening… How do I turn off the slow jams in my hotel room?!... “New Normal Era,” “Creatinnovation,” “godimsotiredwhyisthisspeechsolong…” MORE COFFEE!...F(X) is strutting their stuff in front of a room full of CEO’s, academics, and diplomats after a fancy dinner… Typing… “Finish up in ten minutes. OK five more minutes. Time! You’re past due! Hurry up so we can get outta here!”… Hysteric, Hysteric! Na nanananana… It’s 11:00A.M. Friday, October 15th and I’m lying awake because I’m hung over. However, the inordinate amount of soju Ehren so convincingly (“Chris. Time for a shot”) encouraged me to pour down my throat at last night’s WKF hwae-shik is not the only reason for my hangover. My hangover is one of too much coffee and too little sleep, one of turning tech talk and jargon into understandable terms, one of working (and playing) harder than I can ever remember doing before. My hangover is the result of repeatedly stuffing my head with the knowledge of the world and spraying it haphazardly onto the page. While in this state of knowledge hangover, I can’t recall the specifics of what I heard, however, I do feel like the world, just like my pair of pants, has gotten a little bit smaller.
WKF (5/5)
myself in their shoes. Like teaching, writing is not a craft that just anyone can do. I was humbled being so close to such talented and world-famous people. I remember leaving my first session and seeing CNN Personality Fareed Zakara getting his shoes shined next to me. And seeing Paul Krugman exiting the VIP lounge as I went to cover his lecture. Passing Donald Trump Jr. on the escalator twice, and grabbing coffee next to the CEO of SK Telecom. Besides day three where fellow CDI instructor Jason Waller and I worked together, I did not see any other black people. Although this is quite common in Korea, I am glad that if I was the only black person that people saw at the conference, they could read my nametag and see that I was from CDI. And hopefully this conveyed the message that our company represents not only an English academy but the diverse world in which we live.
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were top-notch, and the service and comfort of the working environment were that of any top-level Korean hospitality center. On day two, I covered three sessions that I had great familiarity with. The first was a debate on the U.S.’s response to the fiscal crisis between New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman and Harvard’s Niall Ferguson. From my work in NY especially real estate, I had become familiar with Krugman and Ferguson’s debates and the market conditions that led to a fiscal meltdown. My second session was covering Krugmam’s case for a greater U.S. fiscal stimulus. I ended day one covering Donald Trump Jr.’s lecture on being successful as a brand. This was especially fun because one of my first real estate deals was a Trump building in Manhattan. However, because of our hectic schedule, I was working non-stop from 8:00A.M. to 8:30A.M. Needless to say, I was exhausted at the end of the night. The evening accommodations at the “W” Hotel were breathtaking: wall to ceiling windows, smokedglass walls, an oversized tub, a queen-size circular bed, and a 180-degree view of Seoul. It was a small piece of heaven on the 11th floor. Day three was very challenging because of a 7:30A.M. morning session and little sleep. The sessions were not as interesting as the previous day, and working on little food, coffee and cigarettes was a challenge, but it made me appreciate journalists more. Writing the story, finding the leads and quotes, all the while making a readable narrative for your editor by the deadline. I never really appreciated what they did until I put
G N I T F RA
RAFTING (1/3)
n o i t c e l f e R 2010
by huong nguyen (mapo)
15
I
started my dreaded journey at 6A.M. battling the heat and rain of the never-ending monsoon season of Seoul. ‘Were we going to raft in the rain,’ I asked myself, but it quickly turned into beautiful sunny day, ending with a twenty-girl shower session. I know. Hot. I eventually reached Gangnam after going through the rain. When I arrived there, three tour-sized buses awaited to take us to the rafting location. With great organization skills, the coordinators assigned our buses and we quickly loaded. Unfortunately, due to “Korean” time, the buses didn’t depart for another thirty minutes. As the buses drove further away from Seoul, the sun began to creep out. It was turning into wonderful weather for an adventure. After about a three-hour drive, we reached our lunch destination— out in the boonies. They served a delicious bowl of bibim-bap with all
the Korean sides. While waiting to go to the next destination, people began to lather themselves with sun block and explored the area. The location felt like a countryside bed and breakfast. They had many small rooms, each with a bathroom. After an hour, one of the coordinators handed out our t-shirts, and we loaded the bus again, this time excitement filling our bodies. Next stop—rafting! As the bus rolled up closer to the stream, my heart couldn’t help but beat faster with anticipation. I was going to cross off another item on my bucket list: white water rafting! Hearing the “roaring rapids” of the mellow stream, I didn’t know if I should be disappointed or have
bought some soju and beer to enjoy the ride. I was expecting a more adventurous ride, being thrashed around by violent waves. It was more like tubing then “white water rafting.” But the day could still be fun. I was one of the first rafts to get loaded and sent down the stream. While waiting for the other rafts to join, many teachers decided to jump into the luring stream because of the overwhelming heat. I felt the initial shock of the cold
Eventually, the other rafts joined us and we continued down the river. As we strolled down the river, the raft competitions started. People —meaning the guys—from various rafts were violently splashing water at people on other rafts. All the while, the girls shielded themselves and screamed from the shock of the cold water hitting their already soaked bodies. Guys would wrestle each other to pull teachers into the water. It was so assuring to know that, without knowing each other names, we were able to just enjoy a Sunday afternoon without the rain, CDI, kids, and finding transition words. It was just adults being youths again. We reached our destination at the foot of the river. It was time to clean up and go home. There were two jim-jil bang style showers. The girls all piled into one shower room. The guys were surprisingly shy, and they waited so that only one person occupied the room at a time. This was weird to me because
RAFTING (2/3)
guys piss in front of each other all the time. Puzzling. After a long day of playing and swimming, everyone was starving. We quickly scuffed down pizzas and cola. They were delicious but weird at the same time. Who puts cherries on pizzas? We climbed back into the bus and started our three-hour tour home, tired and exhausted.
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but quickly relaxed into it under the sun. Awesome. Because I wasn’t a good swimmer, and was getting nervous about drowning even though a life vest was securely wrapped around me, I was the first to get back on the raft. But this wasn’t an easy task. With the combination of a life vest, soaked clothes, and a bouncy raft, I was struggling to pull myself up. Then, the tour guide decided it was a good opportunity to demonstrate to everyone how this was done. He effortlessly pulled my life vest without a warning and dragged me onto the raft. Just to make sure everyone learned the method properly, he threw me back into the water like a dead fish, and waved me back to be hauled back up again.
RAFTING (3/3)
would have “My rafting team d ar contest; we ha w of g tu y an in d won ike from Gumi an M ys gu t es gg bi the two en’t the n Branch. We wer Anthony from Mai but had lots of fun. Avi rs s most skilled rafte ies and impression or st st be e th d ha i teacher Jenn from Daech d an , nt ce ac c ni of a Hispa the guy lamb as many of al ci ifi cr sa e th eat as w throw her (with gr to d te an w rs he ntly teac and sorry I accide , er at w e th to in success) foot. I thought the e stepped on your to th hen our boat got w as w rt pa st ie funn river and everyone e th g on al e en sc picture a, and we almost er m ca e th at ile turned to sm , our raft “Rafting was a blast! Thank you rocks. Afterwards river. e th to in d he as cr e FHR and especially Travis Stewart doing circles in th was the only one ng leader and for some for putting on a fun event. I got to so Mike was our boat t of the lyrics to Celine meet a lot of great people as well. os m reason knew Thanks Daegu group!! The funniest Heart Will Go On” Dion’s song, “My . Second funniest thing was Jay with his air paddle. song though y rafting I would bark out 1, 2 then everyone “I had a blast for sure! …classic wearing these tin ne yo er ev as w in the boat would say 3, 4 while Did you also know if you minded me of helmets which re e early 80s.” were in the water, you paddling in the water and then g th Roller Derby durin there was little old Jay in the back pulled the the straps saying 3, 4 staring off into never around each buttcheek, “It was a great experience! never land with his paddle not they make a seat? Although Tha nk you FHR! I think some people they do cup your junk alot, even in the water.” from our boat liked the wedgies more seat. rap it’s like a jockst tha n the y would like to admit. I wonder Good times for sure!” how we came out on camera when we all realized we were headed for the ! le op ts of great pe rocks? Haha. Our raft group rocked “I had a blast! Lo :D to get y da at re G ! Props to anyone who had to go to er th Perfect wea definitely had the work today—you must be achin.” out of Seoul! We ^ ^ s! ep pe t ea gr craziest raft with & FHR!*^^*” Thank you Travis
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Total personal bu ses yesterday from m taken y until I got back ho house me = Ten Total number of sandals lost in the water = I almost Two Total number of w edgies from that orange life-ja cket = Two Total number of pi zza slices eaten with the cherry topping = Five Total first time rafti ng experience = Pric eless
Know Your Peoples
PEOPLES (1/3)
by J. Kim (dongjak)
race, education; and the more peculiar subjects such as knitting and vampire infatuation—gothic subculture. Has our world created a dependency on frivolity? I say, if utilized properly, online social networking is an extremely efficient way of creating awareness, whether if it’s for personal or public affairs. In the late 90’s, before the “Y2K” hype, the internet was peanuts compared to what it’s like now. Networks and browsers like America Online (AOL) and Netscape made the World Wide Web accessible, but still painful with only a dial-up connection. Even so, I found myself patiently waiting through the sound of static and high-pitch noise so I could browse the web and log onto AsianAvenue. com or Xanga.com. A couple years after I signed up for Xanga.com, a blogging community, the word, “blog” had officially been added to the English dictionary. At the time, this type of browsing and blogging was just a part of my curiosity. I never thought things, such as web design or online blogger would be taught at Universities or would be considered as a professional job title. That was definitely an oversight, even at the age of 13. I should not have underestimated the power of online social 18
Online social networking is like smoking cigarettes. One of the reasons why you start is because: all the “cool kids” are doing it. Once you’re addicted, you find you find yourself doing it more to relieve stress or kill time. Then, you realize you’re doing it because you have to, as it fits into your daily routine: In the morning, after you eat, during work breaks, and/or while you’re on the toilet. It melts into your life unconsciously, and it becomes a meditated fix. You realize it has become an unhealthy habit, so you start making excuses for doing it and, in denial, admit you only do it in/for social situations and when you’re drunk. At the end of the day, it will never go away, it will always be there and only seems to become increasingly popular, whether it’s in the media or in general conversation amongst friends and family. All over the world, currently, there are over 190 online social networks worth mentioning, according to Wikipedia.org. And 74 of the 190 networks have at least one million registered users, including Cyworld with 24 million; seven social networks have well over one hundred million, including Facebook with five hundred million. These networks specialize in anything and everything social; travel, art, religion,
PEOPLES (2/3) plastic cups, keg stands, or outdoor light shows) but there will be a variable in my story that makes mine more cool, or an element in your story that makes yours more interesting. My point is to have an ability to be social with the people around you without having a pompous or ignorant demeanor. Why? To know your peoples. No matter who you are, where you are, and what you are doing, you have an established network of people to connect with in the future. I made sure before coming to Korea I would know at least a handful of people. This network of people are people who are willing to let me stay in their home, show me around their city, or even go on a trip with me around the country. Some I knew very closely and others I have not spoken to since high school. Either way, I found them from my past. And how do you suppose I did such a thing? Online social networking. I rely on online social networking more than Snooki, from the MTV reality TV show “Jersey Shore,” relies on self-tanner and more than Justin Bieber, American Pop-music sensation, relies on his hair dresser and texturizing hair products. I also made it a point to know a handful of people that I had never met but have at least one or two friends in common. How do you suppose I find out such a thing? Via Facebook—the “Mutual Friends” panel. These people are people I have never met; maybe known of; or seen on my friends’ Facebook “Wall.” My immediate friends would simply “Suggest” them to me as a friend and
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networks. But the blogging community is a whole separate article in itself. (For some of my favorite blogs, look to the bottom of the article.) I went to school so I could get a job. I went to college so I could attain a career. Well, what I received was a standard education, and I acquired the minimal amount of knowledge that would allow me to pick the most appropriate life vocation. Even with all the years of what seems like only tests and essays that were supposed to prepare me for a solid future; college had actually made my money-making desires more ambiguous. Some people choose to expend time, money, and effort towards their education with one career in mind—the all too typical—business, medical or law degree. What about the rest of us that dwell through college declared with an “undeclared” degree? What do all the endless hours of studying and countless all-nighters mean to young minds as we grow up in a vast world full of uncertainty? I decided that getting an undergraduate degree would prepare me for the “grown-up” part of my life, and it would allow me to hold a respectable conversation with other intellectuals. I initially went to college for some of the right reasons; however, in retrospect, I went to be social. I went to meet people and establish a network that would enable me to have opportunities not just anyone could have. I can guarantee that I have an experience similar to yours (perhaps something that involves red
PEOPLES (3/3) Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility;” protect your information and discern whether something should be posted publically or privately. Of course, you can write a letter, make a phone call, or even send an email to ensure more privacy. I will tell you though; these are neither quite as strategic nor convenient as social networking. It is not magic; it is the power of online social networking. Whether you decide to utilize it or not is up to you; however, I know it will work more in your favor to make moves upon it, rather than to not. It depends on what kind of social experience you’re trying to have. I have been in Korea for only one month. And already, I have had the opportunity to meet at wide array of individuals that have turned my great trip to Korea into an exceptional trip to Korea. I kept in mind the worst situations, but hoped for the best, and luckily, I experienced something far superior than the best. Even though I feel this way now, I know there is still more to experience. I realize online social networks are not meant to replace another medium of communication, it is meant to do far more than that—to connect with people anywhere around the world. One thing I used it for, and I advise you to do the same, is to increase social opportunities while traveling. And don’t even get me started on online video communities like YouTube and micro-blogging like Twitter… Some of my favorite Blogs: 1. Hip Hop Music: www.pigeonsandplanes.com 2. Fashion: www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com 3. High Fashion: www.thestylerookie.com 4. Graphic Design and Art: www.shawna-x.blogspot.com Honestly, my Bloglist can seem endless, but these are the ones that I visit weekly, if not daily. For more tips, questions, comments, or concerns, I am happy to refer more upon request. Enjoy!
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voila, another social network to connect with. Whether it is tomorrow or five years from now, I am building my own spider web of connections, so that one day when I’m in New York, Bali, or Belize, wherever; I can, with ease, connect with people all over the world. And I hope, actually I expect people to connect with me while I am in Korea. And the best way to reach me is through Facebook and Twitter. This mutual connection is like a superpower: the ability to say, “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” at the same time for a maximized social experience. I also find a type of convenience in Facebook over a phone number. Honestly, when meeting new people, it has come to the point where I prefer people to contact me via FB than phone. Especially when it comes to dating or public rendezvous. I can use my page and another person’s page to my advantage. It’s cool if we’re just friends online, but if according to your page we do not have anything in common then I might not see you past my “News Feed.” But if I see that we have similar interests, I will contact you to hang out or even request business services (more professional related online social networks include linkedin.com—great resource.) Plus, it’s much easier to delete a Facebook “friend” than to delete your phone number from someone else’s phonebook. With five hundred million active users on Facebook, according to Facebook’s Press Room, at least 700 billion minutes are spent a month “Facebooking.” Let’s face it, online social networking, especially Facebook, has become a necessity rather than something to briefly overlook. At least it doesn’t have the same cancerous effects like smoking cigarettes, (not yet at least—joking.) That being said, Facebook has its cons, too, but I would hardly think of it as a hindrance. Like Uncle Ben Parker said to
triptych
CREATIVES FOLIO 5
by sasha harrison (mokdong)
21
creatives &fiction
I made this triptych around the 2009. The story told is about a couple that lived in Sokcho and ended up abandoning their child. It starved to death because they were addicted to gaming. The paintings represent the “hazard� (the yellow and red areas) and the addictive nature that games like Nintendo (old school) and other newer games can have on humanity if their use spirals out of control.
creatives &fiction
CREATIVES FOLIO 5
faint
by michelle roberson (mapo) hidden by long blond hair. He looked at Carrie who held on to me tightly. The man in white continued down the street then he turned the corner. Next, a police officer came by and he asked us what were doing. I explained to him the situation and he agreed to wait with us. Across the street I saw the man in white talking to a blond woman in white. The man walked away and the woman crossed the street. She came over to the officer and asked what was wrong. He told her that we were waiting for our escort who had disappeared. The woman suggested that she wait with the girl while I look for the guard with the officer. I refused but the officer insisted. I did not want to leave Carrie. I told him that someone is trying to kill her but he just thought I was being ridiculous. He forced me to come with him down the street. I kept looking back to make sure that Carrie was still there. Suddenly, a group of people passed by and by the time they were out of sight, Carrie was gone. I screamed and pulled away from the officer. He grabbed my hand. I told him that Carrie was gone. The two of us ran back to the store and there was no sign of Carrie or the woman. The door to the store was broken open. The officer pulled out his gun and told me to wait
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It was all over the news for days. Known serial killer “The Hacker” was on the loose. The Hacker was a man who hacked online databases in search of young girls to take. He would giveaway certain attributes about his next victim days before he’d abduct her. He posted it all over the internet for everyone to see. This time he wanted a young girl with short, red hair and freckles. A girl in my charge matched this description. Her name was Carrie and she was just 10 years old. I was hired to be her nanny. The day it happened, Carrie’s wealthy parents were out of town and we were sent a bodyguard for extra protection. I thought everything would be alright but I was wrong. I took Carrie for a walk to the park with our guard walking close behind us. We stopped at a pet store when it started to rain. Our guard suggested that we wait inside the store while he went out to buy us umbrellas. 20 minutes passed and the rain stopped. However, our guard had yet to return. To make matters worse, the store we were waiting in, was closing. We had to wait outside. Ten more minutes passed and still no sign of our guard. Suddenly, a man dressed in a large white coat walked slowly passed us. His face was completely
creatives &fiction
CREATIVES FOLIO 5
faint
(continued)
the second was being used by a woman who did not want to get off. I continued to down the street and finally found a pay phone. I dialed 911 quickly only to be put on hold. Carrie woke up and began crying about being hungry. I told her to wait as an operator picked up. I started to tell her what happened but she did not believe me. She had gotten numerous prank calls from people saying that similar thing, claiming that they had the girl. I began to plead with the woman and she put me on hold. The next person who picked up was a man. He was the officer from before. He told me to wait where I was and he was arriving shortly. He handed the phone to the woman who agreed to stay on the line with me until he arrived. I handed Carrie a bag of chips from my pocket and she ate it silently. I kept looking around, thinking I’d see the man or woman in white emerge out of no where and kill us. Finally the operator told me that I should see the ambulance now. I looked down the street and there it was followed by several police cars. They pulled up beside us and the doors opened. Three paramedics jumped out. I handed them Carrie and leaned against the door of the ambulance as they strapped her in. I burst into tears thinking that Carrie was finally safe. The police officer from before told me that I should be proud. I continued on crying before I lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
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outside while he went in. I waited while he looked around the street for Carrie. He returned shortly with Carrie in his arms who had a gag over her mouth. He handed her to me and took out the gag. Carrie told me that the woman told her to wait quietly in the store until she returned or she’d kill her. I heard sirens and turned to see an ambulance pull up. Relieved, I walked over to it only to see the man and woman in white emerge from it. I picked up Carrie and ran. I heard a gun shot behind me but continued on running. I heard another shot and I felt a sharp pain in my back. I fell the ground with Carrie in my arms. I gathered my strength and got up still holding Carrie. I heard more shots and continued down the street, then I turned the corner. I spotted an old shack and ran inside. Carrie was crying. I tried to hush her and told her everything would be alright. I found some sheets and I tore it to wrap around my wound to stop the bleeding. Carrie fainted from the sight of my blood. I sat in the corner next to the window with Carrie cradled in my arms. There were small holes in the curtain that I could see from. The room had no light and I hoped no one could see us. I heard sirens and saw police cars pass by. Then a camera crew arrived. I heard the reporter say that the Hacker was still on the loose. I stayed in the shack hoping to hear that they had caught him soon enough. I drifted in out of consciousness. I don’t know how long we waited but the next time I looked outside, the street was practically empty. A couple passed by saying the Hacker was spotted in the park but still he had not been caught. When I was sure that the couple was gone, I picked up Carrie and walked out of the shack. I spotted an abandoned carriage down the street and put Carrie in it who was still asleep. On the bottom of the carriage I found a large coat. I put on the coat and started to look for a pay phone. The first one I found was missing a receiver and
Can you find the clues and solve the mystery? Submit your answers to: facultylink@ chungdahm.com and see the mystery revealed in next quarter’s issue.
creatives&fiction
by joffre andrade (dongjak)
CREATIVES FOLIO 5
24
playing fair
upcoming events& announcements
p e t S o t k ic rtainment what:EK nte s, and
Dates, time
ons to be venue locati
EVENTS
announced
k group inment” o o b e c a F e h t rta otified? join “Kick to Step Ente n t e g i o d how ni Ogunyoku la o T r o , h n y Hu n White, Joe
up !” p e t s o t y d a t e n r e d m n in a a t h r s e t e r n “Always f for your e
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contact Aaro : n o ti a m r om fo for more in ail to: kicktostep@gmail.c m shoot an e-
upcoming events & announcements
EVENTS
who: Dirty Gangn e (featuring a lead singung along with four oth er from Gangneung CDI) er what: Ole Stomp bands e when: October 30 (s rs’ Battle of the Bands where: Ole Stompe aturday) at 8P.M. rs what’s the damag Rock Spot in Itaewon, Seoul for your info: Dirty e: FREE!! Gangneung will
be facing off agains t three other bands in a maelstrom of music madness on October 30 for a chance to advanc e to Ole Stompers ’ Battle of the Ban ds final round. Don a costume, indulg e in some fine beve rages (Korean beer) and watch some bada ss bands tear up the stage with their virtuoso music and crazy antics. Who knows… you might even catch us at the final on Novem be r 20! event info: http://w ww.facebook.com /event.php ?eid=1171158116 83 54 1&index=1 -our infofacebook: http://w ww.facebook.com /pages/Dirty Gangn eung/137747636 26 1711 youtube: http://ww w.youtube.com/use r/dirtygn
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places& spaces: the jazzy groove of seoul
EVENTS
by rachel hahn (mokdong)
Cheonyeongdongando in Daehakro
Once in a Blue Moon in Chungdahm Do you want to propose to your girlfriend at a luxurious jazz bar in Chungdahm? Then, “Once in a Blue Moon” will help you out. It is two-story standard jazz bar located in Chungdahm, Hakdong intersection, and nearby Galleria department store. You can call at 02-549-5490 for more information. It has been used many times as the site for Korean movies as one of the most luxurious jazz bars in Seoul. It provides drinks, wine, and some gourmet cooking as well. Visit the website for more information about “Once in a Blue Moon”, www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr. Just like Cheonyeongdongando, it plays music from 7P.M. to 12A.M. I know, I know. Even though I am a big fan of jazz music, I rarely go to those places since it’s quite expensive for me. Of course you can just buy a bottle of beer and relax, but if you want a cozier atmosphere with a home-y feel to it, why not travel to Hongdae, the most active street for youngsters in Seoul. There is a famous jazz bar there. It is also known as the casual jazz music academy, “Club Evans” in Hongdae. www.clubevans.com. It is kind enough to provide English information on the website since the street is famous for foreigners in Seoul. It is located in close proximity to Sangsu Station, Line no.6. You can also 27
Do you want to experience a Jazzy, breezy autumn night? If you are sick and tired of rock, hip-hop or electronic clubs there are the right answers all around Seoul; Live Jazz clubs are sparkling every night for you. Let’s start the journey from the northern part of Seoul. “Cheonyeongdongando”. It is located in Daehakro; the street never sleeps with the passion of play. Daehakro is close to Hyehwa station, line number 4. It is quite close from Jongro. Cheonyeongdongando is one of the most famous Jazz bars in Seoul. You can see famous jazz musicians in Korea every night. The bar is more like a fancy restaurant that you can grab a bite with friends if you want. It is spacious enough to accommodate about 200 people a session. It has various beverages as well as fancy main dishes. If you want more information, visit www.chunnyun.com. It doesn’t provide English information, yet you can catch up on their super live playing from 6P.M. to 12A.M. every night.
places& spaces: the jazzy groove of seoul
EVENTS
(continued) walk up to Hongik University from subway line 2 gate no.5, but it’s easier for you to get off from Sangsu station if you are not familiar with that area. There is FEBC, Far East Broadcasting Station in Sangsoo station. The bar is just one off to the one block of FEBC. It tunes music from 7P.M. to 12A.M. every weekdays, and they extend running time till 2A.M. on weekends. Check out more information at 02-337-8361.
All That Jazz in Itaewon Now, are you ready to experience an unexpected groovy night in Seoul? You don’t need to dress up nor spend much money. If you like jazz music, just buy a bottle of beer and that’s all. You can have wonderful live music in Seoul with your close friends thousands of miles away from your stresses. Club Evans in Hongdae
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Itaewon would be very disappointed if you didn’t stop by there for the oldest jazz bar in Seoul. Do you want to experience a groovy jazz night in Itaewon? “All that Jazz” will be the right place for you to get some New Orleans air in Seoul. Korea’s first jazz club, “All That Jazz” has been around for three decades in the same place. www.allthatjazz.kr provides English information that you can check out with line-ups every week. It opens from 8:30P.M. to 1:00A.M. on Sunday through Thursday, and 8:30P.M. to 2:00A.M. on Friday and Saturday. Call right away 02-795-9701 if you get lost.
orea’s K o t s r e e h Let’s c l! upcoming events o h o c l a ’ e R & announcements ‘GG no
EVENTS
Let’s go, Makgeolli!
! ! E E FR
what: 8th Region a when: November 6 l Korean Makgeolli Festival (s
aturday) and 7 (sun day) from 10A.M. to 6P .M . where: Ilsan Culture Square (in front of the Hyundai Department Store) cost: FREE!! opening event: Tr ot & Blues Party on November 6 at 1:30 P.M. featuring Cho Kwon Woo (pioneer to th e exquisite sound of the blues) and Aur ora (women’s trot grou p) major events: unlim ited makgeolli tastetesting, makgeolli 20 flavors exhibit, tradi 0 tional recipe makge ol ii sh and tastings, perfo ows rmances by leadin g makgeolli masters, enjoy the traditional family play ground, makgeolli drunken st orytelling, singing sh owoffs, and sponsored by: Ko the best makgeolli-drinking market sidedish re es. visit on the web: an National Makgeolli Committee ht call for more info: tp://www.takjoo.kr 031-967-3131
Overfl o at the w with fr ee makge olli fe dom stival!
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