Lasik in Korea

For many years I have had a curious interest in laser eye surgery. It has always been subdued due to time or money but this week I had a bit of time due to holidays and Korea has one of the best price points. I have had a few friends who had the surgery in Korea and was recommended to a clinic in Busan called BalgeunSeSang Eye Clinic also known as iLove Eye Center. I figured I had nothing to lose so I booked an appointment.

It is a state of the art facility boasting over 160,000 surgeries in the last year. You arrive for your appointment and are met with a questionnaire. How many eyes do you have? and other standard eye related questions. It is a very comfortable atmosphere with gentle music playing, comfortable chairs, computers to use, water, tea and coffee to drink while you wait.

A short 15 minute wait and you are on your way to complete a barrage of tests. Their website claims that they perform 50 examinations on your eyes before you are ready to be approved for surgery. They have all sorts of whirring, blinking, hissing, steaming contraptions that test not only your eyes but also your courage.

The one test that I think I failed was the eye wetness test. They put a strip of paper in your eyes for 5 minutes and the wetness of your eyes is based on how far the water has traveled. I say I failed because the nurse that took the papers out let out a startled, "Oh" when she saw the results. "Pretty dry, eh?" Said I. Yes was the reply.

Upon your completion you are taken in to a small office with a nurse to discuss the results with you as well as your eligibility and the cost that would come along with it. I say nurse but I am unsure of the qualifications required to preform the job. They were very polite, but they were also very polished. The whole time I was with my nurse it seemed like she was trying to sell me on Lasik. I tried to press about my dry eyes but she down played the risks and insisted that I would be a perfect candidate.

From there I was taken to another office to get my eyes looked at by a doctor, again I am unsure of his qualifications. He told me that he recommended the surgery. I asked him about my dry eyes and he confirmed that my eyes were dry but brushed it aside saying that it should be no problem.

I was quoted the price of 1,400,000 won($1,200) for both eyes, which is cheaper than doing one eye in Canada. The price was right but seeing as the biggest complaint about Lasik surgery is that it results in dry eyes I want to go to a doctor that is not getting paid based on my response to find out the true condition of my eyes before irreversibly altering them.

All in all it is a very interesting experience to participate in; you are very well taken care of and they boast a very high customer satisfaction rate. You pay nothing until the day of the surgery, so for those who are curious if they qualify all you have to lose is the two hours that the examination takes.

Christmas in Korea

Christmas in Korea is not as widely celebrated as it is in the western world. As such, I was able to dodge construction on the way to catch the bus on the way to our Christmas service at church. It felt weird to see everything going on as if it was just any other day.

But then I spent the day in a way I have never spent Christmas before.

I went to church, the had lunch at a restaurant with a friend, met two other friends and the four of us played a few hours of ping pong. Then caught the bus home, stopping by the store to do some grocery shopping before going home, making burritos for supper and sitting down to watch a movie. What a way to remember the birth of the Savior of the world, eh?

Easy As Pie

Apparently making pie is not as "easy as pie".

I followed the directions but when I put the crust in the oven the butter in started to bubble up and boil. Also it shrunk. What did I do wrong?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Annabelle and I!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Through the use of an aposiopesis you may accuse me of leading you on, because Korea is not beginning to look a lot like Christmas... but then, what does Christmas look like?

Like this of course...

Merry Christmas!

Market Shutdown

It just so happened that I went to the market during the day and invited one of the Korean teachers along for a break. Upon seeing that I had interpreter, each of the stalls I had been loyal to sorrowfully broke the news to her/me. The market was closing! Despite my attempts to single handedly buy enough produce to feed a city block, they could not stay open.

They said that while the fruit and vegetable sales had been good, the other shops that sell dried fish, blankets, and various other interestingly diverse things, had not been able to unload enough to make it worth their time.(I wonder why?...) They were pulling out. As a result, the market would be to small to command the parking lot they had been occupying every 5 days.

While this is a disappointing, it is not terrible. I had a habit of buying at least 15000 won worth of produce regardless of if I needed it or not so this will allow me to save a bit of money. There is a permanent fruit stand literally right beside my school that is womanned by a lady that is quite sweet. But I will have to find a new source for vegetables and eggs.

Here are a few pictures of the last market night, unfortunately I didn't get pictures of the sellers as I went late and they were already busy packing up.

Vegetables

Fruits

Going...

Gone...

Miss 3000

By the title you may get the idea that I am referring to baseball, the name bestowed upon any player in the Major League of Baseballs after they reach the exclusive club of having 3000 hits.

I am not.

Any one who knows me, knows that I do not care for the MLB and if you like baseball, you already saw that in my poor explanation of the idiom. How much do I like baseball?

I like the MLB as much as I like eating octopus. I will eat octopus if my friends are eating it but probably not even then, I will just find something else to eat. (In reference to baseball, I will watch it if my friends are watching it but probably not even then, I will just find something else to do)

Another clue is the Miss. We all know that girls don't play baseball...

This is instead, my way of letting you know that Annabelle and I have spent over 3000 happy kilometers; hand in handlebar, jean on leather, smile on face!

Sunrise

Winter in Korea has been starting to make it's presence known, and like Canada, it has gotten colder and the days have gotten shorter. Waking up at 7:00 is now allowing me the opportunity of watching the sun wake and the day break over the mountain in the East just out my french doors.

It looks like this or better everyday:

It's Been a While

As you may or may not have noticed, it has been a while since I last wrote. It's not that I have a lot to show for the time I have been silent either. Not that I have been sitting at home wondering what to do, but I just have been going about living life as it is in Korea.

I could site a number of excuses; I forgot, I was busy, I didn't document what I was doing, Annabelle has been demanding more of my time, I have other friends now, I have to work during the hours I am at school now, I have been preparing a Christmas surprise for you, I got a second job(eating at restaurants). The list goes on... pick the excuse that works for you.

Regardless of the reason you think I haven't been writing, I will do my best to put a few new stories up this coming week so stay tuned... or don't.

Road Tree

A few months back I drove through a town with a tree in the middle of the road. It is a two lane road and when they made it, they had just left the tree and paved right up around the tree. Seeing as we drove past I knew that I wanted to get a picture of it but I did not have my camera with me at the time. I finally set aside the time and went out this weekend.

Upon seeing it for the second time I was a little disappointed. The two main reasons for this were that the road curves right at the tree and it's in the middle of a town, But I guess these are just excuses for the fact that I am not a creative enough to make it work. The disappointment melted away when I remembered the quality time Annabelle and I were able to have as a result.

Here are a few pictures from our time together.

Is this a hint?

Got this great little manicure set from one of my students. I'm pretty sure it's just because I am such a good teacher. Haven't gotten your manicure set? Time to change things up.

I did wonder for a little bit if she or her mother were trying to hint at something with regards to my presentation of the area surrounding the keratin on my body. That couldn't be it though because I try to cut my nails at least once a month(that is just a rough estimate, I don't really keep track of those kinds of things).

Regardless of the reason, I have the nonpareil of nail care in my hands, now to learn how to use it...

Water and Boats

Having grown up in the prairies, I am still blown away every time I drive past this point.

Thanksgiving in Korea

This past weekend I was blessed to be able to participate in two taste bud pleasuring, gut-busting Thanksgiving dinners. The first dinner was with a small group of friends that has been meeting semi-regularly to have nights of cooking. Believe it or not it started out as four guys but has grown to include two girls(for some reason). As it turned out we over estimated on food(like usual) and made enough for somewhere around 30 people. Not to worry though as there was a potluck with people from the church the next day and the leftovers were warmly welcomed.

The food was fantastic, but the thing that got me was the smell. As I walked into the room, turkey and cinnamon wafting through the air, I was reminded of years past; the family, the friends, the familiar. While this year has brought many changes, I once again have much to be thankful for. Just to list a few things in Korea that God has blessed me with: caring friends, a warm church community, Annabelle, challenging experiences that provide growth, food and shelter. Life!

Tourist?

I ate at this restaurant. Does that make me a tourist?

Public Transit and Wet Socks

It was Friday night and I had arranged to meet a friend for supper, the only problem was that it was raining. This wasn't a major problem, but it meant that I would not be taking Annabelle but rather relying on public transit. Normally this would also not be an issue as the public transit in Korea is fantastic but this night was an exception.

I made it to the bus stop five minutes before the bottom of the hour because, as I knew, the bus, trusty 120, came every thirty minutes. The time flew by keeping myself busy with my cell phone as I have been taught by watching the people of Korea. But unlike my neighbours, I did not use my phone to catch up on the latest TV show but rather to reply to texts that I had neglected all day.

Time flew by and before I knew it I was looking for a cab just incase the bus did not show, unfortunately cabs are as abundant in my neighbourhood, as food in North Korea. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8720870.stm) Finally the trusty 120 revealed itself ten minutes after it should normally have but as it neared, it seemed to be, yes... it turned the block before it got to where I was standing.

I had noticed upon coming to wait for the bus that the normal bus station sign was no longer in place but I due to the many changes going on in the area I thought nothing of it, until now. They had just finished building a new bridge(not the one in front of my school) and opened a new road connecting us to the "metropolitan" Su-wol. It appeared that this had effected the bus route.

No matter, if I was fast enough, I could catch it coming out the other side. It was off to the water filled, puddle riddled races. While I did get quite wet, I did not arrive in time to catch the bus. I did happen make it just as another bus was pulling up so I decided to take it to the terminal. I sat in the back to get a view of the what came up behind and who should appear but the ever trusty 120. All I would have to do is hop off at the terminal and stride over to my bus.

Upon arriving at the terminal the driver decided not to open the door until he had made sure that I would miss the trusty 120, still I ran. I managed to catch the bus at the next stop after two blocks of frantic umbrella dodging. I tell you, it should be an Olympic sport(lets make the decathlon a hendecathlon), so that I can get the gold.

The point is that I caught the bus. Turns out that I was only 3 minutes late for my appointment, certainly mildly moist, but almost on time. Regardless, we had a fantastic time over an average dinner and called it a night, or so I thought.

I once again opted to take the bus, after all it was the most cost efficient, earth friendly option available to get me home. I had never taken the bus home from this location but, I thought, how hard could it be. Just catch the trusty 120 and I would be home faster than I can bake a cake.

After a short 6 minute wait I was on the trusty 120 headed for home, except that we were headed in the wrong direction. No worries, I comforted, you are just paranoid because you feel insecure with out Annabelle, as if you went to school in your underwear, as if you went hiking and left your arm in a canyon, as if you left your heart in San Francisco. If only I would have taken Annabelle, she would take care of me.

My comforting words did little to comfort as we were still headed in the wrong direction and by now I was the only one on the bus. Finally the driver stopped as if to park, but not as if, actually to park. He shut of the bus, with it went the lights and my hope to make it home faster than I can bake a cake.

Thankfully my Korean is almost fluent, so I went to ask the driver what the deal was, and found out that apparently my Korean isn't nearly as fluent as I imagined it to be. I did manage to get that, if I didn't feel like walking home from who knows where, I would be there for another 30 minutes.

At first this distressed me a little, but as I came to my senses I realized that this was a perfect opportunity for some time to think and reflect as I had literally no distractions and even less excuses. I used the time to pray for friends and family back home, think about life and all the blessings that I have received over my time in Korea.

When you think about it thirty minutes isn't a very long time for one of those things let alone all three and so before I knew it we were, as my main man Willie would say, "On the Road Again." The trusty 120 dropped me off just outside my house, I put on clean, dry socks and climbed under the covers for my nightly nap.

Mountain Climbing on Kajodo Island

This past Sunday the weather was to gorgeous to waste so I climbed a mountain. I'm not sure what the mountain is called but it is the tallest peak on Kajodo Island, the one with the orange bridge(that I climbed here). I have wanted to climb the mountain but have not been able to find the trailhead. Thankfully today I had a guide who lived on the island and was from Nepal no less. 

We parked at the restaurant in the middle of the island, right where the road splits up, followed the right fork of the road for 50 meters until it veers right. Keep straight on what looks like a driveway for about 100 meters, the trail is on your left just as you pass the first house.

The climb itself is not very strenuous but seeing as I spend more time with Annabelle than exercising, my fitness is not what it once was. In short, the mountain had me huffing and puffing. It took us just over 30 minutes to ascent and it turns out that the mountain is a tall 331.9 meters high. The view was a little hazy but on a clear day it would give a nice view of the Samsung shipyard. 

331.9 meters never felt so much like 332 meters.

The sun. The water. The trees.

Our guide.

The view.

Deciding how to get down.

All things considered it was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Good Restaurant

You know it's a good restaurant when... they have a sign saying that they are a good restaurant.

Pepero Day

November 11 in Korea is celebrated as Pepero Day. What is Pepero Day you ask? Pepero Day is a celebration manufactured by Lotte Corp. to sell it's tasty, chocolate on a stick treats. Interesting... Read all about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepero

This is what one of the mothers bought in to for the 5 year old class:

This is about half of what my students brought me:

What a great display of marketing... or consumerism...

Mirror Image

One of my students drew this picture at her art school and gave it to me. I asked her who it was, she said that it was me and seemed a bit surprised that I didn't pick that up. When I asked what part of the picture was like me, she said that I have a red shirt. How right she is...

My not so Lucky Charms...

are all gone! Thanks dad and mom they were great while they lasted...

Get Lost

The other day I looked out the window and decided that the weather was conducive to going for a motorcycle ride so I decided to the store to pick up a few things. On the way to the store I decided that it was too nice to go to the store so I just kept riding instead.

I rode all the way off the island and then on to another little island that I had seen from the bridge. I took a little bit of a break there, but being afraid of getting lost in the big world of non-island Korea I made my way back to safety.

Upon coming back on to Geoje I noticed Nambu, the name of a town I had never visited, on a sign and so I decided to try and find it. It turned out to be harder than I thought. I assume that I drove right past it because I followed the signs until there were no signs. No Nambu. But I had gone farther South than I had ever been on the island. I also stopped by the puzzelingly popular pebble beach of Hakdong.

Although by the time I got home it was a little cold out, the time with Annabelle definitely beat going to the store. Here are a few of the things that I saw: