one month to go

Busan National University School Song

On August 25th 2008, I will begin my new position as a University professor at Busan National University of Education. My friend Devin Strome will join me and I'm thrilled that I was able to get him a job there. The campus although small, has a team of PhD Korean instructors who will be my colleagues. BNUE has a faculty of music so I will be getting my fingers in there also; with luck creating some performing opportunities with established musicians. The Education Philosophy is built on love, wisdom and service; appropriate for a school designed for the training of future teachers. I am excited to be able to give back to students and make a difference in the lives of younger generations. Originally created for the training of elementary school teachers in 1946, the school established itself as a recognised university in 1993. Job perks include teaching only 14hrs a week and 14 weeks paid vacation time. As a result of this hard work during a long application and acceptance procedure, I am feeling extremely lucky for my future. I will be assisted by a helpful secretary or professional assistant and will have 5 other native English speaking colleagues. Busan is my favourite city in Korea, famous for having beautiful beaches, hiking trails and less pollution that Seoul.

I am happy to report that I only have one month to go in the private hagwon in the little town I disliked at first and have now grown to enjoy... a little. I have many kind and thoughtful students who regularly present me with their desserts from a lunch that they likely purchased with money mom gave them. There are students who make a point of coming to say hello to me every day in the teacher's office. When I walk between buildings after classes, I am begged for high fives and a quick round of rock scissors paper. At last, all classes have stabilized in terms of behaviour and only now and then do we have big problems and I feel like screaming. My adult class knows that I will be leaving as of the 14th and some have indicated that when I go, they will also leave. This makes me feel good but also badly that their studies won’t continue, the same way. I’ve introduced some of them to group chats on skype, a surprisingly easy way to pick up beginner English speaking friends. My Taekwondo studies lagged a little but I’m back in my dojan with Master Kim and have my blue belt, working towards brown before I leave. He has treated me to lunch several times now after training and I’m going to surprise him with a token from Japan before I leave… Having said that, I know many Korean’s are still angry with Japan years after invasions. Currently, there is a dispute over who an island belongs to which lies between South Korea and Japan. Regardless of the gift origin, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.

It has been a long time since anything photographic was posted here and hope you enjoy these. most of the photos feature my trip to Tokyo to catch Matt's Japanese music concert. He and his girlfriend Yumiko were great hosts.

Click on the small images for a larger, more detailed view!

This is Matt Rollo and I, he is the reason I went to Tokyo.




This Flower shop glowed as a gentle mist of rain fell upon us.













The tokyo subway system was fast, reasonably priced and brilliant for people watching.


The Japan War Memorial housed many tangible artifacts and illegible artifacts seeing as my Japanese is not at all. The existing English information was at times shockingly biased and at times approached deliberate fabrication of fantasy.

Beautiful lanterns above shops lined the narrow street leading to the temple. People filled the streets and I was bumped many times while trying to keep my camera steady to take this slow shutter photo. I did not have my tripod yet which was purchased for the Japanese music concert so this shot was difficult.

Just before we left, the evening lights turned on, changing the feeling of the temple entirely.

We looked for a specific restaurant Matt had in mind and I held things up as usual to capture just "one more" photo.