Seoul

O.k., two more days. We signed in in a little hotel in Insadong, which is one of the touristic centers of Seoul. Insadong has a lot of attractions like little tea houses, traditional or modern, quiet restaurants with all varieties of foods and souvenirs street sellers. There's nothing that you can't find for your friends and family. If you look around, you'll find some restaurants with rather exotic foods, for example one selling pure fish eyes. Yu-u-u-k. Better try Pajon or Bibimbap, that`s good food.

In the afternoon we went to a temple in the middle of Seoul. Entering the place, it was much more silent than any place before on that day. There was some kind of procession going on, later with a few female sabulnori dancers. At another temple adjactend to the first one, I saw a statue that looked like some kind of devil, completely in red. Reminded me of Lucifer and a certain janitor in Kyoto...

German lectors union

I attended to one last conference this morning. The German lectors union had their meeting in Soul's Goethe Institute. It was strange to have so many Germans around, for the first time since last year`s April. I could understand everything, response to every question, ask without hesitation and converse much quicker than in any other group in the last months. A little foretaste for my return to Germany. The conference itself wasn`t too interesting, but one of the speakers was good. Some guy representing four scholarship organizations in Korea talked about his work here. He spoke faster than a machinegun, his figures of speach made everybody laugh and in some respect he was like the stereotype sergeant. I also met Mrs. Dueppel-Takayama from the DAAD branch in Tokyo and had an interesting conversation with Mr. Streichler from the German embassy about his work. This year I started to inform myself about the foreign service, so I was curious about his life and work. Later that afternoon a few people from the group met in the house of one of the members. Having seen apartments only, I was deeply impressed about his house. It was very traditional, with an atrium in the middle, a Magnolia and many antic statues around. He`s working at a museum, and it looks like that kind of work pays off very well.

last day in Jeonju

My, I was saying goodbye to a lot of new friends the last few days. Sad, but I'll meet new people somewhere else. It's just important that I don't loose contact to everybody here. In the next four days I'll be in Seoul, but I'll get back to the journal, if neccessary, in Germany. I planned to visit the border to North Korea, but I have to go to the airport on Monday afternoon, the tour takes too much time that day. At least I have a good reason - beside others - to come back to Korea.

timer for girls

I don't know who came up with that idea. Yesterdy I was looking around in front of the university for presents for the hostfamily. I found something again that left me speechless a few weeks ago: A timer for girls, but with one specialty. On every day the girl could keep track of the size of her hips, her breasts, her arms, her legs, etc. etc.
The layout seemed to point at girls at the age of maybe twelve, maybe more. When I have kids later, shoot me if I ever buy something like that for them. Please.

last professors meeting

Lately, I have a certain feeling of urgency and time pressure - I think the time to do what I want to do in Korea doesn't fit into the half week thats left. There are many people who I met, who would like to see me again, who would like to do something together, but I'm afraid I can't fit all expectations. Tonight, the professors who practise English together gave a farewell party. During the discussion before the dinner, we talked about the Korean custom of eating dogs. Some are edible, some are not - but as a Vegetarian, I wouldn't touch pork or beef neither. Is there a difference between eating a snail, insects, dogs, cats, cows or fish? Not really, beside the taste I think. Some professors ate dog meat, and a few were objecting the way how the dogs are treated and killed. Western media was critizing that customs many times, and during the Olympic Games in Seoul they government forbade dog meat serving restaurants to prevent any Korea-bashing. When did democracy kick in in Korea again?

fortune teller

I have an appointment with a real fortune teller tonight! Before you cry out of disbelief, let me explain: I'm not superstitious, not even a little bit. As an Atheist, I'm pretty much sure he's only going to do one or two estimated guesses and that's it. What can he read out of a person's birthdate and time? Not much, but this thing works with a lot of communication and reading of body language, keeping the predictions as interpretable as possible. We'll see.

The reason why I decided to meet one of those people is, that the tradition of consulting with a fortune teller is still strong in Korea. Before a marriage i.e. the bride and groom send their birthdates to the fortune teller who then determines if they fit together or not. Youths are not that involved into that tradition, but the parents still insist on such advices. I'm curious about tonight.

another meeting with students

Today I had maybe my last meeting with a group of Korean students. They were not actually from the German department, but from education. Professor Park, who was yesterday inviting me to his house, was translating most of the explanations as the students' level didn't suffice for a discussion. Anyway, they had a few interesting questions, we covered right wingers as well as martial arts, the army - called Bundeswehr and why I didn't go there yet - long hair, the students life in Korea and Germany, my private life (*sigh) and a lot of other fields. I hope I could give the students a more diversified picture of Germany than what you can read in newspapers.

One short remark aside: All students in that class were female except one guy. Education is for women - but then, where are all those female professors? I see only guys. ;-)

new forum

I managed to get the Ultraboard forum script working, so from now on, you can discuss everything you like in a decent atmosphere: Just click here