The bane of my existence. Everywhere you go, hospital food will suck. Big twist, there's something worse you can get in my hospital: "western" hospital food.
That's right, Western food prepared Korean style in a hospital. If there is a binary to a long-standing 5-star Italian restaurant in Rome this is it. The cafe lady offered me a Western meal the first day saying it was a "hand-made steak." Hand-made might not have been the word she was looking for but it was still a red-flag. Consequently, I'll be eating Korean food for my entire stay and I'm pretty happy about that.
This morning the gentleman in the bed next to me ordered the Western Breakfast. This is Korea and the law plainly states that there is no specific food for a specific meal. His breakfast was some sort of soup and a sandwich. But the sandwich did not look like anything I've ever seen in my life. It was a double-decker sandwich, cut diagonally, with what looked like a potato puree with bits of veggies in it. Then the top layer looked like more of the same with cheese and on one side there was jam. I was intrigued and watched this man struggle to keep it down. Needless to say it made my breakfast look ten times better.
When we were taking our trays back to the cart I asked him how his breakfast was, he muttered, "Rice is better." I told him if I was given the option back home to have Korean food in a hospital or say mac and cheese I will take the latter everyday. In a low-budget, and untalented system have people stick to what they're good at. For example, in homage to Breaking Bad, I would not hire Todd, or even Jesse, to work in an actual pharmaceutical laboratory. Just make meth; leave the complicated stuff to a professional.
As for the typical hospital meal its not half bad. I'm getting Korean food I would never make at home. It's like eating a cafeteria lunch... for every meal of the day which gets depressing if you're not reading or watching something to distract your taste buds. Usually there's fish and soup and some vegetable. There's always kimchi and rice. Although, like prison, I've managed to swap food for food to make my stay a touch better. When my former neighbor left he gave me several packs of kim (dried seaweed I eat with rice) for an orange. I've told a lot of visitors that I'd compare the meals to school lunch but there are way more things that repulse me. One plus is there's a beef dish at least once every other day and I rarely eat beef here because Korean cattle is very well-fed and the price reflects that. Still, the downsides outweigh the upsides by a country mile.
Having an abundance of snacks makes living much more tolerable and once again thnks to all the givers of snacks. There's still no official break out of the hospital day yet because my doctor didn't see me today. Why you ask? I was taking a dump when he came to my room, I heard his voice for a fact. Someone knocked on the bathroom door and I told them to give me minute. No one replied. Probably because the doctor and his lackeys was already on the elevator to see his next patient and he never came back. Either way, our relationship is on a slippery slop. Next you thing you know he'll realize he left his watch on my clavicle, or maybe he's a part-time chef in the hospital kitchen. That could explain a lot.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Soldier away from Home: Remember when we first met?
Breaking my collarbone has prevented me from doing lots of things at the level I'm used to: chores and bathing are going to take me forever, playing guitar is going to feel really awkward, and playing sports seems out of the question until the new year. The big thing is I've been sidelined for the rest of the ultimate season. It's weird because for the first time in my life I started the season wanting to win it all. Maybe this injury is the cosmos telling me that I should just stick to having fun when I play sports. And that's okay! Ultimate is the sport where I understand the formations, positioning, timing and specific roles on both sides of the disc. I'm not a defined leader yet but its a goal I want to work towards because I'll back this sport until I'm pushing daisies. I love everything this sport stands for and the community that surrounds ultimate. I can't wait to get back to it but in the meantime I'll praise it from my hospital bed.
I've been playing ultimate off and on for 6 years now. It all started as a ploy to get a date for prom, which fell through, but I discovered a new love interest. A group of seniors, myself included, formed our school's first high school ultimate team. No teacher had any idea what this sport was (some even questioned it as a valid excuse to leave class early) so our captain found a person willing to coach on Kijiji. He was the best, and taught us how the game is played and introduced us to Posts aka Beersbie and emphasized sportsmanship during the game. In Toronto, the sport was not very popular so we were travelling for forty minutes to an hour on the subway. We were a rag-tag bunch of kids and we managed to hold our own and make the playoffs going 3-2 with a ho-stack-piston offence and stellar man defense. Then we played OFSAA finalists from the previous year and got torched to end our season. The loss left a bitter taste in my mouth but also opened my eyes and inspired me to get better, which carried me into university.
When I got to LU I went looking for an ultimate team right out of the gate. During frosh week I found them and was outmatched in every aspect of the game; my teammates were all juniors or seniors and, at seventeen, I felt completely out of place. Luckily there were Res. Sports. Each month houses would compete against one another and the first sport was ultimate. I couldn't explain to my fellow Gators how excited I was to play Ultimate again. I was up north in the boonies and assumed I'd be one in ten people on campus who could flick. There were about twenty. It was still a lot of fun to teach my dorm mates how to play. Although I felt like a huge dick calling travels and double teams and getting a "WTF" look in return. I stayed in residence until my junior year as a House President as an excuse to keep playing ultimate even after finding a campus rec team to play with indoors during the winter. That team was the definition of rag-tag. My co-captain brought most of his house in every year who were mature students looking to socialize: there were party animals, thirty year olds, soldiers, rugby players, a shitty quarterback, and people who have never held a disc before. I got my fair share of coaching that first and final year. After that I just started playing flag football but I missed the sportsmanship and "go have fun demeanor" of ultimate. During my professional year I didn't play at all. With a shitty relationship, working 20 hours a week, and school I couldn't fit in. Looking back that was a really depressing year as a whole maybe not playing ultimate had something to do with it.
Coming to Busan I met a guy who played back in England and told me about pick-up. I didn't go until October which was when I got sick of seeing everything through the bottom of a glass. I remember getting there early in running shoes and seeing everybody in cleats then watching people run zone offense for the first time. It was intimidating especially seeing this closely knit group of players talking as if they were all friends from birth. Then they start hucking end to end and jumping 2 feet off the ground skying one another. It was insane. I knew I was out of shape after playing the first point and walking off like it was over, sweating all over, only to realize the games are to three. The ROKU league had just started and I wouldn't be able to hop on a team. Subsequently, I went back to the life of KSU and drinking myself stupid. After new years I decided I would commit to ultimate and that was the best choice I made. Now I've become part of that circle of friends and returned to my on and off high school romance.
Now that we're on a forced hiatus I feel so far away from the sport I'm obligated to write letters like a soldier away from home.
Be safe my love,
Shraham
I've been playing ultimate off and on for 6 years now. It all started as a ploy to get a date for prom, which fell through, but I discovered a new love interest. A group of seniors, myself included, formed our school's first high school ultimate team. No teacher had any idea what this sport was (some even questioned it as a valid excuse to leave class early) so our captain found a person willing to coach on Kijiji. He was the best, and taught us how the game is played and introduced us to Posts aka Beersbie and emphasized sportsmanship during the game. In Toronto, the sport was not very popular so we were travelling for forty minutes to an hour on the subway. We were a rag-tag bunch of kids and we managed to hold our own and make the playoffs going 3-2 with a ho-stack-piston offence and stellar man defense. Then we played OFSAA finalists from the previous year and got torched to end our season. The loss left a bitter taste in my mouth but also opened my eyes and inspired me to get better, which carried me into university.
When I got to LU I went looking for an ultimate team right out of the gate. During frosh week I found them and was outmatched in every aspect of the game; my teammates were all juniors or seniors and, at seventeen, I felt completely out of place. Luckily there were Res. Sports. Each month houses would compete against one another and the first sport was ultimate. I couldn't explain to my fellow Gators how excited I was to play Ultimate again. I was up north in the boonies and assumed I'd be one in ten people on campus who could flick. There were about twenty. It was still a lot of fun to teach my dorm mates how to play. Although I felt like a huge dick calling travels and double teams and getting a "WTF" look in return. I stayed in residence until my junior year as a House President as an excuse to keep playing ultimate even after finding a campus rec team to play with indoors during the winter. That team was the definition of rag-tag. My co-captain brought most of his house in every year who were mature students looking to socialize: there were party animals, thirty year olds, soldiers, rugby players, a shitty quarterback, and people who have never held a disc before. I got my fair share of coaching that first and final year. After that I just started playing flag football but I missed the sportsmanship and "go have fun demeanor" of ultimate. During my professional year I didn't play at all. With a shitty relationship, working 20 hours a week, and school I couldn't fit in. Looking back that was a really depressing year as a whole maybe not playing ultimate had something to do with it.
Coming to Busan I met a guy who played back in England and told me about pick-up. I didn't go until October which was when I got sick of seeing everything through the bottom of a glass. I remember getting there early in running shoes and seeing everybody in cleats then watching people run zone offense for the first time. It was intimidating especially seeing this closely knit group of players talking as if they were all friends from birth. Then they start hucking end to end and jumping 2 feet off the ground skying one another. It was insane. I knew I was out of shape after playing the first point and walking off like it was over, sweating all over, only to realize the games are to three. The ROKU league had just started and I wouldn't be able to hop on a team. Subsequently, I went back to the life of KSU and drinking myself stupid. After new years I decided I would commit to ultimate and that was the best choice I made. Now I've become part of that circle of friends and returned to my on and off high school romance.
Now that we're on a forced hiatus I feel so far away from the sport I'm obligated to write letters like a soldier away from home.
Be safe my love,
Shraham
Friday, September 27, 2013
Cards from school
The Grade 6 English teacher came by on Wednesday. She is the English Teacher, for now, because she's missing her zany counterpart. To my surprise she also brought two of the kids as well who help in the library. And they brought letters from other students too.
There were a couple cards that just said "fighting." It makes me smile because its spelled properly and it reminds I need to stay strong to get through this ordeal.
Here are some quotes from these cards to keep my students anonymous, and their artwork and printing will make you feel really bad about yourself... in my case but that mentality is what I'm "pighting."
"How are you today?~ / SoSo or happy or Bad? / haha~ I think SoSo~!!/ Teacher Get wee well soon~! / good Bye~"
"How's it going? / I think Bad~~ / Because Teacher is / Sick / Teacher~ Cheer up ~ / gather heart ~ good bye"
"Break a leg!! / Way to go!!"
"Are you Okay?? Get well soon! We hope you feel better! Fighting ♥"
"I was actually worried after listen that you were in hospital. But I relaxed directly that it was not a big injure. I want to see you teaching us talking English. I hope that you should cure well and see from school! ^^"
After reading them again it makes me want to just belay these walls with a bed sheet rope and hustle over to these avid learners (especially that last one, she's the one who listens to the Beatles btw). There's comfort in it too knowing that kids miss you, and its sentimental things like this that I keep with me forever. These letters have made me even more set on getting out ASAP, seeing those faces again, and getting back to work.
Also I've realized no one in the hospital has remarked on how handsome I am! I think its a power thing because I'm complimenting them on their beauty and they shrug it off like they hear it all the time. Word to the wise, asking "Did it hurt?" to a nurse who doesn't understand English only leads to more pain killers, not a punchline, a date, a number or even a giggle.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
2014 Hockey Predictions
Well its been a shorter off-season this year and has there's hasn't been much news about teams, rankings, stories, ridiculous publicity stunts, etc. I honestly haven't been reading a lot into the new NHL season, however, there are still some predictions and stories to follow for the upcoming season. As usual scroll to the bottom for my award predictions. For people wanting to get involved it helps to cheer for a team: I always like high flying teams with grit aka winners: This year exciting teams are the Washington Capitals, The Toronto Maples Leafs (bias), The Chicago Blackhawks, The Edmonton Oilers, and The Colorado Avalanche. Be warned, these are not the best teams in the league they just have highly skilled and creative players that will be exciting to watch.
Now, some predictions. I'm here typing to have fun make a couple jokes and spread my love of hockey and get the rumour Mill turning. I'm not an analyst, never will be, so please, NHL players, associates and know-it-alls, take this with a grain of salt.
There are always four rounds in the playoffs but I don't know whether there are divisional playoffs or if teams will be grouped as a conference. Anyways all I know is how it ends.
The St. Louis Blues VS The Boston Bruins
Stanley Cup: St. Louis in a hard fought 7
Conn Smyth: David Backes finds his inner Dustin Brown.
...Just kidding 'Hawks repeat as champs. Kaner wins the Conn Smythe again and the dynasty goes on.
Tis the season, have a great one hockey fanatics!
Alfie:
The arch-nemesis of most Toronto-born hockey fans loath the former captain of the Ottawa Senators. Now he's moved south of the border to Detroit for one last run at the cup. He's got a good shot with fellow Swedes Hank Zetterberg and Johan "the Mule" Franzen, Kronwall and some others. Oh, and CANADIAN GOLD MEDAL WINNING COACH Mike Babcock and free agent Stephen Weiss. This is a really good looking team on paper and hopefully, for the Leafs, they tank.Columbus(t):
Last year I was curious to see whether Columbus would win a quarter of their games. As you probably know they made a push for the playoffs after acquiring Officer Bobrovsky in a trade who became a Vezina nominee over night and won it too. Now with signing Nathan Horton after getting Marian Gaborik at the deadline and with a young core one year older they're right in the thick of things. You could talk about pressure but they averaged 14,565 (28th in the league) people in attendance last year. John Davidson is at it again, look out!Committee Netminders:
Run Committees have become a popular trend in the NFL and this seems to have carried over to the realm of NHL goalies. With tandems like Vokoun and Fleury, Emery and Mason, Bernier and Optimus Reime, Lindback and Bishop (don't laugh just yet), Schneider and Brodeur, and Florida's committee teams are guaranteeing quality tending in every game. There's even the triple threat of Allen, Halak and Elliott in St.Louis.Coaching Swap:
Arguably the biggest off-season deals were with coaches John Tortorella and Alian Vigneault swapping teams. Hard-nosed Torts has his work cut out for him with really soft Canucks while Vigneault has some hard-nosed Rangers to soften up... and Brad Richards. Both teams are expected to make the playoffs, however, in tough divisions its not an easy road ahead. My bet is the Rangers get it done, and Tortorella's temples finally explode because of the French and Foreigner Factors.Olympics
Lots of players are not just playing for contracts and bonuses for the first half of the season but tickets to Sochi to represent their nation's team. This might also be the last time NHL players will be eligible to play in the Olympics as well. It breaks up the season just like it did in 2010 so the season'll probably get a little compressed in spots. Who do I like to win it? Captain Crosby and friends spoil Russia's home ice advantage.Rookies:
Nathan McKinnon, Alex Barkov, Johnathan Droiun and Seth Jones were all deemed NHL ready prospects and were rightly the top four draft picks in last year's draft. I like Drouin as the player to end up as the best player in-class but McKinnon who's the second NHLer from Coal Harbour, NS, the first being Captain Crosby, will have a big role with the Avs in my opinion and take the Calder. Jones and Barkov simply develop and play in secondary roles the whole season. You can always hope for more though.Divisions:
The new 4-division format is just a small shift that will lead into league expansion in the West. As of right now there are eight teams in the Atlantic (Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Detroit, Buffalo, Florida, Tampa Bay and Ottawa ) and Metropolitan (Columbus, Carolina, New Jersey, NY Isles, NY rangers, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington) divisions and seven in the Pacific (Van-city, LA, San Jose, Anaheim, Edmonton and Phoenix) and Central (Chicago, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Minnesota, and Colorado) divisions. The top three teams of each division make the playoffs with 2 wild cards to keep the same format and the toughest route to a championship in professional sports. So what will Seattle's team name be and who will be the 32nd city in the NHL?Teemu!
The 43-year-old Finnish Flash is back again! Mostly because golfing isn't his thing. In pursuit of 700 goals (he needs 25 more) it seems obtainable if he stays healthy. Go and get it you ageless wonder.Return of the King:
The hot-dogging, smart-talking, Quebecer is back in the Pepsi Center. Patrick Roy has been selected as the Avs' newest head coach. I can't wait for that thick accent to grace press conferences once again. Let the francophone auto-tune sound bites begin! Seriously, he's been coaching his kid, Ollie, all the way to the QMJHL with the Ramparts and now has a great young group of players including number one pick Nathan McKinnon to build around and I'm excited to see them play under a really passionate guy with big game experience. I doubt it'll be as bad as the Gretzky experiment in Phoenix. Roy pulls Colorado out of the basement and into the playoffs.Now, some predictions. I'm here typing to have fun make a couple jokes and spread my love of hockey and get the rumour Mill turning. I'm not an analyst, never will be, so please, NHL players, associates and know-it-alls, take this with a grain of salt.
Hart Trophy
Every year it seems like Alex Ovechkin is a nominee and he seems to always win. He puts the team on his back every year and won't give up. Losing at the Olympics will only make him hungrier earning him MVP honours.Rocket Richard Award
This is a left field shot but I think Bobby Ryan loves the new scene in Ottawa and does some serious damage. Finally living up to being drafted behind Crosby. Especially after being snubbed in ESPNs top 100 forwards. He registers 65 goals and 22 assists!Art Ross Trophy
I've thought about saying a player who rests over the Olympics and makes use of the time off gets the most points. That'd be a very tall order but Ryan Getzlaf or Joe Thornton could manage the feat if they don't get an invite to Sochi. However, I think Sidney Crosby steps up some more and facilitates a stellar powerplay and gets over 110 points.Bill Masterson Award
I think Johnathan Toews is the definition of dedicated player who demonstrates great perseverance and sportsmanship. If he hasn't won one already he should this year.Norris Trophy
Now that he's surrounded with some skilled and experienced players Mark Streit makes the Flyers forget about Chris Pronger by shutting down divisional powerhouses and getting 45+ points and quarterbacking the #1 powerplay.Vezina Trophy
Boston is a very good team that wins a lot of close games when they're hot. Tukka Rask is an unreal goalie and helps the Bruins win a lot of those 2-1 games and rightly gets the Vezina. Rinne is on the other side of 1-0 loses for another season in Nashville.Frank J. Selke Trophy
Patrice Bergeron is the utility player for Boston and racks up 60+ points and is +28 or higher on the season. Quite simply, he helps Rask, Rask helps him. John Toews and Alex Steen are the other nominees.Calder Trophy
The Calder comes to Cole Harbour as Nate McKinnon pulls an Ovie and leads his team to the playoffs and leads all rookies in points and game winners. Its the only thing he does that Crosby doesn't while in the NHL.Ted Lindsay Award
NHLPA selected this is probably the biggest award as a player because its the players that nominate the winner. Everybody respects all around game and I think Steven Stamkos will put all the pieces together and have a season to remember breaking the 60 goal mark for the second time in his career.Jack Adams Award
Could I say Patrick Roy? No, Ken Hitchcock gets the Blues the cup if they have a paved road to the finals! Remember, you heard it here first!GM of the Year (soon to be the Holland)
I'll tell you it won't be Dave Nonis or Bryan Burke. Kings' GM Dean Lombardi makes a solid mid-season trade and then a ball-breaker at the deadline - Phil "the Thrill" Kessel for Mike Richards? Speculating at its finest. But at the end of the day, one guy has a trophy on his mantle and no one else cares.Lady Byng Trophy
Patrick Kane has been out of the news this off-season and his conduct carries over into the season. He plays at a point per game pace and visits the sin-bin less than 10 times.NHL Foundation Award
Hank Zetterberg did it last year so maybe another player from a crime-bitten city will get it. Vincent Lecavalier doesn't do much on the ice but helps the community of Philadelphia. I don't read the news FYI.King Clancy Trophy
This is a humanitarian award and I always pick the injured guy to do something so no child goes through the same thing as him. Marc Staal, after coming close to losing your eye make sure it won't happen to anybody else with worldwide visor campaigns.Messier Leadership Award
The face of the Coyotes, Mr. Glendale, Shane Doan. Give him something before he hangs up his skates.William Jennings Award
Jaro Halak and Brian Elliott shut it down the whole season having the fewest light checks on the season.There are always four rounds in the playoffs but I don't know whether there are divisional playoffs or if teams will be grouped as a conference. Anyways all I know is how it ends.
The St. Louis Blues VS The Boston Bruins
Stanley Cup: St. Louis in a hard fought 7
Conn Smyth: David Backes finds his inner Dustin Brown.
...Just kidding 'Hawks repeat as champs. Kaner wins the Conn Smythe again and the dynasty goes on.
Tis the season, have a great one hockey fanatics!
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Heat Returns
Fuck.
I'm patiently waiting for my IV to be hooked up so I can get out of this sweltering room. Not only is the room an oven but I sit here WRAPPED in a FLANNEL sling and body wrap. It's like summer all over again. Ask any Korean though and they'll say its fall because beach season has ended even though the temperature is the exact same. Regardless, Aircon is no longer a word that computes on the peninsula. Thank goodness for friends who bring ice cream!
You know what? I think I'm just going to be a Moody Trudy and regale you of the ridiculous things I have to do at this hospital.
Cutlery
Cutlery is provided; your typical Korean chop sticks and soup spoon. Oddly enough you are in charge of washing your own cutlery, even though all the bowls and lids are washed elsewhere. Is this sanitary when you have one-armed people struggling to wash their cutlery?
Doctors
I have had two constant doctors throughout my life and they are almost identical: glasses, lean, horrible penmanship, and really hairy arms. This generally carries over to TV doctors as well. My Korean replacement has glasses ... and that's the only cross-over. This guy has a super fat face, legible writing (and its his second alphabet!) and always has long sleeves to hide his arms. At least he doesn't smoke, as far as I know.
Nurses
At home nurses always seemed like waitresses with those service lines: "Is there anything you need?" "Do you need an extra _____" "How about a sponge bath?"
Maybe that last one's only at Brazzers Hospital. There's nothing like that here and its horseshit. Oh my IV's here slowing down my typing two-fold. I'll end it that the nurses are both good and bad. I could write about their beauty for hours on end but at a later date. Maybe once this flannel junk is off.
I'm patiently waiting for my IV to be hooked up so I can get out of this sweltering room. Not only is the room an oven but I sit here WRAPPED in a FLANNEL sling and body wrap. It's like summer all over again. Ask any Korean though and they'll say its fall because beach season has ended even though the temperature is the exact same. Regardless, Aircon is no longer a word that computes on the peninsula. Thank goodness for friends who bring ice cream!
You know what? I think I'm just going to be a Moody Trudy and regale you of the ridiculous things I have to do at this hospital.
Cutlery
Cutlery is provided; your typical Korean chop sticks and soup spoon. Oddly enough you are in charge of washing your own cutlery, even though all the bowls and lids are washed elsewhere. Is this sanitary when you have one-armed people struggling to wash their cutlery?
Doctors
I have had two constant doctors throughout my life and they are almost identical: glasses, lean, horrible penmanship, and really hairy arms. This generally carries over to TV doctors as well. My Korean replacement has glasses ... and that's the only cross-over. This guy has a super fat face, legible writing (and its his second alphabet!) and always has long sleeves to hide his arms. At least he doesn't smoke, as far as I know.
Nurses
At home nurses always seemed like waitresses with those service lines: "Is there anything you need?" "Do you need an extra _____" "How about a sponge bath?"
Maybe that last one's only at Brazzers Hospital. There's nothing like that here and its horseshit. Oh my IV's here slowing down my typing two-fold. I'll end it that the nurses are both good and bad. I could write about their beauty for hours on end but at a later date. Maybe once this flannel junk is off.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
How I Broke my Collarbone and Accepted it.
It was the first week of Ultimate season. On paper, we were arguably one of the best teams in the league with leaders that helped our new players understand the game, and prepare everyone for our first games. The first two went really well: We won both with little difficulty and personally I played hard on both sides of the disc and was rewarded for it which was nice. Both games were well-spirited. My hat's off to Massive and the Overs.
The last game versus the Knights was our toughest game of the day. The team was mostly Korean players, some of the best in all of Korea. The game was very back and forth, we put a hard cup on their offense which didn't go to well after they got some swings going and getting the popper involved they were marching fast and frequent. While our team had the disc the Knights really struggled to force turnovers, we kept playing smart and trusting our handlers. The game started to get intense after the first couple points, both teams realized the importance of possession.
From here on I entered what I would call "the zone." Here I am 100% in the game mentally I know my jobs and stick to that. Time doesn't matter, nor do small details. So if you saw this happen and there's something you don't remember or an inaccurate fact then let me know.
For those who don't know, Ultimate is a self-regulated game meaning players make their own calls and consequently there can be arguments about certain calls. At points, players were looking at these moments of contact (fouls) with a magnifying glass. There was one foul called by our captain and the opponent who committed the foul guffawed at the idea that he committed a foul. Within the next two minutes we were back on defense and the Knights were swinging the disc. The disc got caught in the wind and was up for grabs. I knew I could get it and ran up from my position. The handler on the team was tracking it as well but I had more momentum and bowled him over going up for the disc. I smacked the disc down and when the handler came down he was rolling on the ground cradling his ribs. I took a knee and felt around for bruises on my body but the top of my left ear was throbbing, that was it. We clapped him to his feet and he kept playing on.
The game's intensity continued to pick up with the best of both teams going head to head in coverage. Cutting from the back of the stack, I was lined up for a break-side catch. The disc was right at my chest and when I'm in the zone peripheries aren't checked my mind was just thinking "disc, disc, disc." But I was blindsided by the Knights best player and hit the ground. After I stood up it felt like my shoulder was charlie-horsed. I took an injury time out and walked out of the game on my own strength. As I was walking, calling for ice, I tried rolling my shoulder and that's when I felt a pop. Shoulder separation, no biggie. I'll go to the hospital and have a doctor pop it back in after the game.
I don't remember the rest of the game, my team, Gang Green, ended the game with a hammer (they win games apparently) then we took a team photo. I took the subway back into the city and hopped off at the hospital by my school. I sat down and gave them story. They took me in for x-rays and found the clean break in my clavicle. The doctor told me I needed to be hospitalized and see a specialist the following day.
After hearing the news, the length of time I would be in the hospital, and the fact I won't be moving my arm til the new year, I was totally crushed. Goodbye ultimate season, goodbye guitar, hello one-armed life. It was tough and I kept playing the sequence over in my head blaming the player on the Knights for this. At one point I deduced there was a bounty on my head after laying out his guy, and the hit he laid out on me was retribution. Even if that was true, I don't really care, it's his way of standing up for his team, what happened happened. I can keep replaying it in my head and ponder the what ifs or just accept this and move-on. Maybe its like a break-up it sucks but everyday you get stronger and get your composure back and now, after a week here, I'm confident that everything is going to be all right.
I can't say that's only because of me meditating on this and moving on but my outside food providers and visitors have been a ray of sunshine. Once again, to everyone who visited or sent me a "get well something-or-other" message I always appreciate your good spirits... or beer, whatever you drop off.
The last game versus the Knights was our toughest game of the day. The team was mostly Korean players, some of the best in all of Korea. The game was very back and forth, we put a hard cup on their offense which didn't go to well after they got some swings going and getting the popper involved they were marching fast and frequent. While our team had the disc the Knights really struggled to force turnovers, we kept playing smart and trusting our handlers. The game started to get intense after the first couple points, both teams realized the importance of possession.
From here on I entered what I would call "the zone." Here I am 100% in the game mentally I know my jobs and stick to that. Time doesn't matter, nor do small details. So if you saw this happen and there's something you don't remember or an inaccurate fact then let me know.
For those who don't know, Ultimate is a self-regulated game meaning players make their own calls and consequently there can be arguments about certain calls. At points, players were looking at these moments of contact (fouls) with a magnifying glass. There was one foul called by our captain and the opponent who committed the foul guffawed at the idea that he committed a foul. Within the next two minutes we were back on defense and the Knights were swinging the disc. The disc got caught in the wind and was up for grabs. I knew I could get it and ran up from my position. The handler on the team was tracking it as well but I had more momentum and bowled him over going up for the disc. I smacked the disc down and when the handler came down he was rolling on the ground cradling his ribs. I took a knee and felt around for bruises on my body but the top of my left ear was throbbing, that was it. We clapped him to his feet and he kept playing on.
The game's intensity continued to pick up with the best of both teams going head to head in coverage. Cutting from the back of the stack, I was lined up for a break-side catch. The disc was right at my chest and when I'm in the zone peripheries aren't checked my mind was just thinking "disc, disc, disc." But I was blindsided by the Knights best player and hit the ground. After I stood up it felt like my shoulder was charlie-horsed. I took an injury time out and walked out of the game on my own strength. As I was walking, calling for ice, I tried rolling my shoulder and that's when I felt a pop. Shoulder separation, no biggie. I'll go to the hospital and have a doctor pop it back in after the game.
I don't remember the rest of the game, my team, Gang Green, ended the game with a hammer (they win games apparently) then we took a team photo. I took the subway back into the city and hopped off at the hospital by my school. I sat down and gave them story. They took me in for x-rays and found the clean break in my clavicle. The doctor told me I needed to be hospitalized and see a specialist the following day.
After hearing the news, the length of time I would be in the hospital, and the fact I won't be moving my arm til the new year, I was totally crushed. Goodbye ultimate season, goodbye guitar, hello one-armed life. It was tough and I kept playing the sequence over in my head blaming the player on the Knights for this. At one point I deduced there was a bounty on my head after laying out his guy, and the hit he laid out on me was retribution. Even if that was true, I don't really care, it's his way of standing up for his team, what happened happened. I can keep replaying it in my head and ponder the what ifs or just accept this and move-on. Maybe its like a break-up it sucks but everyday you get stronger and get your composure back and now, after a week here, I'm confident that everything is going to be all right.
I can't say that's only because of me meditating on this and moving on but my outside food providers and visitors have been a ray of sunshine. Once again, to everyone who visited or sent me a "get well something-or-other" message I always appreciate your good spirits... or beer, whatever you drop off.
One handed blogs
I've been in the hospital for almost a week now with a fractured collar bone. As a result my left hand is not very mobile so I don't put anymore weight on my shoulder. The surgery to repair it went well and I'm on the mend.
Korea is a very careful place despite enforcing zero rules, so I'll be in the hospital for about another 2-3 weeks from today. Time's flying because I've had so many visitors drop by with so much good food, and its takes twice as long to do most things except watch TV. By the way: free wi-fi.
The food has been pretty bad but when you're forced to eat in a bed I find myself sitting in for 8-9 hours a day (Breaking Bad is soooo good, I just started watching yesterday) it tastes even worse.
Because of holidays it looks like can get by with all my paid sick days and I might need to take one or two unpaid ones. Bills wise I only need to cover 20% of the bill, but that's what I've been told, we'll see if the board gets cold feet when the bill rolls up to their door.
All in all, I feel I'm making the best of my situation. I'll tell you the story of how it happened another time. Now i'm off to play Settlers of Catan!
Korea is a very careful place despite enforcing zero rules, so I'll be in the hospital for about another 2-3 weeks from today. Time's flying because I've had so many visitors drop by with so much good food, and its takes twice as long to do most things except watch TV. By the way: free wi-fi.
The food has been pretty bad but when you're forced to eat in a bed I find myself sitting in for 8-9 hours a day (Breaking Bad is soooo good, I just started watching yesterday) it tastes even worse.
Because of holidays it looks like can get by with all my paid sick days and I might need to take one or two unpaid ones. Bills wise I only need to cover 20% of the bill, but that's what I've been told, we'll see if the board gets cold feet when the bill rolls up to their door.
All in all, I feel I'm making the best of my situation. I'll tell you the story of how it happened another time. Now i'm off to play Settlers of Catan!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Candidate Teachers come to School.
This week we had teacher candidates, or student teachers, at our school to take observations as an assignment or something. I don't know, they didn't put me in charge of this. This is one of those times when I look at these eager scholars and realize how far I've come and how far away Teacher's College was and the inevitable thought that I'm archaic in their eyes. Also every guy wears a suit and tie so I look like a schmuck because it's still too hot for long sleeves. Some of the ladies were really outgoing talking to me in the cafeteria about where I'm from and other random questions you'd find on an online dating form.
Nothing really changed in my schedule I had an open class with the worst grade 5 class, which was awkward to say the least. Especially when we played a spelling game where students spell words letter by letter up and down the rows and a TC, sitting in the line of fire, spelled soccer S-O-C-C-O-R. She turned bright red as the 28 necks simultaneously snapped around to stare at her.
The other thing that changed was my conversation class; my co-teacher asked all the candidates if they wanted to attend. Obviously no one is going to sit out on this opportunity if one person goes and that's how I had a conversation class of 35 people. Because this is a "big deal" the head co-teacher explained to me that I would need clear topics and questions and probably other things too only pretend to hear. In the end I told my the wiser teacher what was going on and then she asked if she could plan it. I said sure because I'm not going to turn away free help from someone with more experience than me.
This ended up being a super awkward train wreck of silence. Usually our classes are really intimate and you don't get that vibe at all with 30+ people. It's also the shyness of CTs and TCs which was perplexing, to say the least. Eventually after trying to squeeze blood from this stone of a morgue (the topic was friendship and the silence went on for so long I brought up and taught the term "bros before hoes" no one seemed to get it except the guy who was engaged.) we went around the table and introduced ourselves. This was almost just as bad as the silence. There were a few teachers who were able to talk about themselves but others went like this:
"Hello, my name is __________. My family is mudder, fadder, me and brudder. I study at Pusan University of Education Elementary school teacher. I like (insert food or sport here). I am 20-something years old" The second last sentence is out of the grade 4 textbook, an open-class they had that day. I'm glad to see it came in handy.
The best one, by far, was a pretty cute Korean girl with those popular over-sized black rimmed glasses. It was the standard this is my family, I'm this old and then said "I was out drinking last night and I don't want to talk anymore," she turned to the peer next to her, "Your turn."
Nobody laughed at this, I said "I see a lot of you in me." The next day she sat next to me in the cafe and I asked her if she went out again. She did. Get ready Korea because this will be a real life movie coming your way in 3 years when this gal gets a job teaching your children through movies, and breaking into BMCOE offices to prepare her students for tests. Call me when its car wash weekend.
Nothing really changed in my schedule I had an open class with the worst grade 5 class, which was awkward to say the least. Especially when we played a spelling game where students spell words letter by letter up and down the rows and a TC, sitting in the line of fire, spelled soccer S-O-C-C-O-R. She turned bright red as the 28 necks simultaneously snapped around to stare at her.
The other thing that changed was my conversation class; my co-teacher asked all the candidates if they wanted to attend. Obviously no one is going to sit out on this opportunity if one person goes and that's how I had a conversation class of 35 people. Because this is a "big deal" the head co-teacher explained to me that I would need clear topics and questions and probably other things too only pretend to hear. In the end I told my the wiser teacher what was going on and then she asked if she could plan it. I said sure because I'm not going to turn away free help from someone with more experience than me.
This ended up being a super awkward train wreck of silence. Usually our classes are really intimate and you don't get that vibe at all with 30+ people. It's also the shyness of CTs and TCs which was perplexing, to say the least. Eventually after trying to squeeze blood from this stone of a morgue (the topic was friendship and the silence went on for so long I brought up and taught the term "bros before hoes" no one seemed to get it except the guy who was engaged.) we went around the table and introduced ourselves. This was almost just as bad as the silence. There were a few teachers who were able to talk about themselves but others went like this:
"Hello, my name is __________. My family is mudder, fadder, me and brudder. I study at Pusan University of Education Elementary school teacher. I like (insert food or sport here). I am 20-something years old" The second last sentence is out of the grade 4 textbook, an open-class they had that day. I'm glad to see it came in handy.
The best one, by far, was a pretty cute Korean girl with those popular over-sized black rimmed glasses. It was the standard this is my family, I'm this old and then said "I was out drinking last night and I don't want to talk anymore," she turned to the peer next to her, "Your turn."
Nobody laughed at this, I said "I see a lot of you in me." The next day she sat next to me in the cafe and I asked her if she went out again. She did. Get ready Korea because this will be a real life movie coming your way in 3 years when this gal gets a job teaching your children through movies, and breaking into BMCOE offices to prepare her students for tests. Call me when its car wash weekend.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Top 5: Student Interviews
I was given the task of interviewing/ conversing with Grade 6s last week with a mix of simple and advanced questions. These are my favorite kinds of things to do because it helps you get to know your students on a personal level... assuming they are confident speaking English.
That was the case for only a few kids. I am at the point where I know which of the 250 Grade 6 students speak at a low level but they're usually able to tell me their favorite subject, foods, and how many brothers and sisters they have and other simple questions. For higher level students I ask them things like their hobbies, where they'd like to travel, what music, books and movies they like, and questions that build off of simpler questions too. Sometimes when I was sick of hearing, " I have a younger brother," and "I like Pija" I'd tell them to ask me a question. After the first week of this activity my co-teacher and I collectively decided that the higher level students should think of questions to ask me. In the end we decided it would be better to give them a choice whether to ask or be asked.
5. One kid on the baseball team at my school was born in Korea, then lived on Long Island for eight years, and came back the same time I arrived. His English is significantly better than his Korean but now that's changing according to my CTs. However, we talked about the differences in between New York and Korea in terms of baseball and he finds that Baseball is more important here than in America. The baseball team's youngest players are in Grade 3 and the team practices from 3 to 6 almost everyday. I don't think that would ever happen in Canada (unless it was hockey) but I won't say the same about our neighbors to south.
4. I'm pretty close with one of the Grade 6 teachers and she told me one of her students (who doesn't look Korean at all) went to the Philippines to study English over the winter vacation. In class he's still a statue but with the interview he was a little more talkative. Despite the praise I have for this student he didn't exactly pick my favorite question:
"Do you have a girlfriend?:
"No,"
"Why?"
"I'm too busy. I travel on weekends, I play lots of sports and I'm a teacher too."
"I'm too busy too to have a girlfriend."
We both laughed, awkwardly, and ended it there.
3. I asked a girl how here weekend was and she had just started learning Chinese. I asked if she wanted to go to China and she shook her head. She knew the country wasn't very clean and, we didn't get into specifics here, she didn't agree with some of their customs and values. She reads and listens to the news frequently with her parents which was something I never had the patience to do. Big ups to her!
2. Another student chose to ask me some questions. The first two were "How old are you?" and "What's your favorite Korean food?" but his third question was really unique: "What is your heaven?" I took me awhile to answer him but eventually it came down to being able to see everyone in my family who had passed away and getting to see the ancestors I never got to meet... and get completely wasted with them.
1. I asked a lot of students what their favorite bands and musicians were. Most of them said K-Pop people I'd never heard of, no one was a huge fan of Psy but they don't hate him either. One girl told me she likes Justin Bieber and THE BEATLES! That was probably the coolest moment of all the interviews, hence the power ranking. Knowing that kids can and do listen to music from my parents era makes me think anything is possible and the internet is an amazing time capsule.
As a teacher I really want to be able to continue this routine with my students even when I'm finished with ESL and I recommend this as a space filler or warm-up for speeches.
That was the case for only a few kids. I am at the point where I know which of the 250 Grade 6 students speak at a low level but they're usually able to tell me their favorite subject, foods, and how many brothers and sisters they have and other simple questions. For higher level students I ask them things like their hobbies, where they'd like to travel, what music, books and movies they like, and questions that build off of simpler questions too. Sometimes when I was sick of hearing, " I have a younger brother," and "I like Pija" I'd tell them to ask me a question. After the first week of this activity my co-teacher and I collectively decided that the higher level students should think of questions to ask me. In the end we decided it would be better to give them a choice whether to ask or be asked.
Here's the top 5
5. One kid on the baseball team at my school was born in Korea, then lived on Long Island for eight years, and came back the same time I arrived. His English is significantly better than his Korean but now that's changing according to my CTs. However, we talked about the differences in between New York and Korea in terms of baseball and he finds that Baseball is more important here than in America. The baseball team's youngest players are in Grade 3 and the team practices from 3 to 6 almost everyday. I don't think that would ever happen in Canada (unless it was hockey) but I won't say the same about our neighbors to south.
4. I'm pretty close with one of the Grade 6 teachers and she told me one of her students (who doesn't look Korean at all) went to the Philippines to study English over the winter vacation. In class he's still a statue but with the interview he was a little more talkative. Despite the praise I have for this student he didn't exactly pick my favorite question:
"Do you have a girlfriend?:
"No,"
"Why?"
"I'm too busy. I travel on weekends, I play lots of sports and I'm a teacher too."
"I'm too busy too to have a girlfriend."
We both laughed, awkwardly, and ended it there.
3. I asked a girl how here weekend was and she had just started learning Chinese. I asked if she wanted to go to China and she shook her head. She knew the country wasn't very clean and, we didn't get into specifics here, she didn't agree with some of their customs and values. She reads and listens to the news frequently with her parents which was something I never had the patience to do. Big ups to her!
2. Another student chose to ask me some questions. The first two were "How old are you?" and "What's your favorite Korean food?" but his third question was really unique: "What is your heaven?" I took me awhile to answer him but eventually it came down to being able to see everyone in my family who had passed away and getting to see the ancestors I never got to meet... and get completely wasted with them.
1. I asked a lot of students what their favorite bands and musicians were. Most of them said K-Pop people I'd never heard of, no one was a huge fan of Psy but they don't hate him either. One girl told me she likes Justin Bieber and THE BEATLES! That was probably the coolest moment of all the interviews, hence the power ranking. Knowing that kids can and do listen to music from my parents era makes me think anything is possible and the internet is an amazing time capsule.
As a teacher I really want to be able to continue this routine with my students even when I'm finished with ESL and I recommend this as a space filler or warm-up for speeches.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Through the Eyes of the Waygook: At the Movies.
There are a lot of different things about Korean movie theaters that make the experience a lot better. The only down side is the selection isn't the same as back home: the major blockbusters usually make there way over, as do Oscar Nominated films. Certain films will not be coming here like This is the End, We're the Miller's, and any B or below movie about American History. Right now the big films from North America are Elysium and Now You See Me with Riddick and Adore (which is called Two Mothers here) on the way.
The five films I've managed to see while here were Silver Linings, Man of Steel, An Unexpected Journey, Life of Pi, and Now You See Me. In total I've spent less than $60 at the movies including snacks! Tickets are usually $7 or $9 but snacks are not as enormous but you're not paying $10 for a bag of popcorn either. My friend and I usually go dutch on the couple-package which is two medium bags of popcorn (flavored popcorn costs the same) and drinks for 10,000 won. If I've eaten a big meal before I go for a bottle of water from a convenience store because they are built into some of the theaters.
Back home there's always the dreaded feeling after getting your tickets then walking into the theater room itself to see a mass of people sitting gobbling, talking on their phones, and someone shushing their baby in the pitch black not knowing where to sit. Korea has solved this problem by giving you assigned seating. Oddly enough at basketball and soccer games there is no assigned seating and tickets are cheaper than a ticket to the movies. Also I find the sound isn't as overwhelming, but after a year hearing twenty-seven chairs sliding along the floor simultaneously I might be used to loudness of theaters.
It's a different kind of experience in Korea but at the heart you still want to watch a magical story unfold in front of you on a screen at least 5 times the sizes of your TV.
The five films I've managed to see while here were Silver Linings, Man of Steel, An Unexpected Journey, Life of Pi, and Now You See Me. In total I've spent less than $60 at the movies including snacks! Tickets are usually $7 or $9 but snacks are not as enormous but you're not paying $10 for a bag of popcorn either. My friend and I usually go dutch on the couple-package which is two medium bags of popcorn (flavored popcorn costs the same) and drinks for 10,000 won. If I've eaten a big meal before I go for a bottle of water from a convenience store because they are built into some of the theaters.
Back home there's always the dreaded feeling after getting your tickets then walking into the theater room itself to see a mass of people sitting gobbling, talking on their phones, and someone shushing their baby in the pitch black not knowing where to sit. Korea has solved this problem by giving you assigned seating. Oddly enough at basketball and soccer games there is no assigned seating and tickets are cheaper than a ticket to the movies. Also I find the sound isn't as overwhelming, but after a year hearing twenty-seven chairs sliding along the floor simultaneously I might be used to loudness of theaters.
It's a different kind of experience in Korea but at the heart you still want to watch a magical story unfold in front of you on a screen at least 5 times the sizes of your TV.
Monday, September 2, 2013
The Halpertian Stare (trademarked)
If you're not a fan of The Office or, to a lesser extent Modern Family, you're not going to understand what I'm talking about.
Today I asked the language assistant were she gets these containers that're sturdy and stack-able. They don't look modern or appealing but they're extremely practical and I'd like to have some sort of storage system for my afternoon classes so they can have long-term projects that span over one class. And a place to keep their notebooks so I can mark them as I please. A co-teacher intervenes in the conversation preaching that they're quite expensive and I should ask the school to buy them.
"Well, [co-teacher],when can we do that?"
"Maybe next time."
Meaning ...?
And that's when I realized at times like this I do The Halpertian Stare. I turn my head into a vacant space in the room and stare blankly searching for someone in that space to relate to in this perplexing and frustrating situation. I presume my eyes are slightly sad or sighing. But nobody sees or understands. Meanwhile, the sane employees of Dunder Mifflin as well as the Dunphy and Pritchett families have a camera lodged in the fourth wall and an audience of a million plus to flash their straight face of negativity that cries for any form of escape or salvation.
Moments like this don't bother me anymore, I'm starting to realize I watch way too much TV, by which I mean Netflix. And too much vegging out is reason number three for starting Korean classes.
Today I asked the language assistant were she gets these containers that're sturdy and stack-able. They don't look modern or appealing but they're extremely practical and I'd like to have some sort of storage system for my afternoon classes so they can have long-term projects that span over one class. And a place to keep their notebooks so I can mark them as I please. A co-teacher intervenes in the conversation preaching that they're quite expensive and I should ask the school to buy them.
"Well, [co-teacher],when can we do that?"
"Maybe next time."
Meaning ...?
And that's when I realized at times like this I do The Halpertian Stare. I turn my head into a vacant space in the room and stare blankly searching for someone in that space to relate to in this perplexing and frustrating situation. I presume my eyes are slightly sad or sighing. But nobody sees or understands. Meanwhile, the sane employees of Dunder Mifflin as well as the Dunphy and Pritchett families have a camera lodged in the fourth wall and an audience of a million plus to flash their straight face of negativity that cries for any form of escape or salvation.
Moments like this don't bother me anymore, I'm starting to realize I watch way too much TV, by which I mean Netflix. And too much vegging out is reason number three for starting Korean classes.
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