Leaving the ROK

In other news, I'm heading out early tomorrow for home. While I know I have tons to do when I get there, I honestly wish I could just stay here. It's been nice not doing any wedding stuff. I'm sure I'll regret taking the month off from the planning, but it has been good for my mental health. haha Well, I'll be landing with tons of trinkets and memories, alas, no evidence of me at the DMZ! (well, none that I have...I'm sure those North Korean guards took my pic. Maybe I'll be on some propaganda. "Look at the fat American. See how she mocks us with her painted lips and frizzy hair. Capitalist Pig.")

Crime Doesn't Pay

Nice guys always get caught. We were having this discussion the other day... some guys previously in his job royally screwed up, but just never reported mistakes or problems. So, they are view as wonderboys. On the other hand, being the honest guy that he is, he reports problems and oversights, etc. So, what does he get for working hard and being honest? Trouble. That's right. No pats on the back for noting the problems and working on them. He'd have been 'better off' just letting things slide, doing his one year here and heading on out. hail the conquering hero. Anyway, let me get to my point. ... There are some major thieves out there who live the high life. While, I , on the other hand, can't even get away with taking a paperclip from work (so to speak, but not really). On Saturday, I went to the DMZ. Uneasy fun was had by all, ending up at the tiniest souvenir shop ever. In the hubbub of 100 people trying to cram into this shop and get things purchased in "15 minutes everyone!!", I left my camera. I'm getting ahead of myself. In the store, they were selling coins. Not your ordinary coin, think more like a Chuckee Cheese token. These Air Force guys collect coins, though. It's a mystery to me. They have them from every deployment, division, etc. that they've ever been on. They like to display them... after four years in, he already has a few dozen! Anyway, so I thought I'd be nice and buy him a couple. So, I turn to the lady and hold up two fingers and say "coin." (That's how I talk to the Koreans who don't understand English..gestures and one or two word phrases. It seems to work.) Anyway, not until I was happily back on the bus did I realize she had given me THREE. Two of them were stuck together. The bus was leaving in a minute and I debated over whether to go back or just go with it. The guy next to me on the bus said "Guess you were the hundredth customer. Think of it as a prize." And, it's true, I paid $5 per coin that probably cost 50 cents to make. Long story short: I "STOLE" that coin. Yep. If I'd only rushed back in, elbowed through all the people and tried to explain to her what had happened (what's the hand signal for 'you gave me too many'?), maybe I'd realized that I'd left my camera in there! Thanks God, appreciate the lesson. But, why does Joe Drug Dealer get all the Benjamins and I get thumped for a five dollar trinket? Oh, the humanity.

The Korea Times

I'm going to just quote you some things to let you know about what is happening in the news here. I'll indicate my own comments by italicizing...On Sunday morning, there was an incident inside the DMZ...

"Early Sunday morning, Pfc. Kim Dong-min, 22, threw a grenade inside his barracks where 25 of his comrades were sleeping and sprayed 44 rifle rounds, killing eight soldiers and injuring four others, investigators said.
Pfc. Kim said he had planned the incident in retaliation for being bullied and harassed by superiors, according the investigators.
Minister [of Defense] Yoon has since been under pressure to step down to take responsibility for the tragedy. The largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP) threatened to submit a motion calling for the resignation of Yoon for recent incidents resulting from what it sees as ``slack military discipline’’ and lapses in security along the DMZ. ...........

But Yoon’s efforts have been marred by a string of disgraceful incidents, such as alleged human rights violations and a high-profile promotion scandal, as well as the discovery of breaches in wire border fences.
Last Friday, a North Korean soldier was found wandering near a South Korean border town, four days after he sneaked undetected across the mine-strewn DMZ, drawing concerns about security problems. "

That was an article from The Korea Times today, telling about the Minister of Defense's resignation, prompted by these events.

Here are some reactions, also in the paper:

"Sunday’s shooting at an Army guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has influenced a change in opinion on those abandoning their Korean nationality to avoid compulsory military service...

``I have taken it for granted that every man has to serve in the Army,’’ a father of three sons wrote on the bulletin board of the Ministry of Defense Web site on June 20.
``But after the rampage, I feel very nervous about my sons. Maybe I should have had my wife give birth to them somewhere other than Korea,’’ he said.
Another Internet user criticized the ministry on the same site, saying, ``What kind of nut would be willing to send their sons to the Army, Marines or whatever, when the military experiences are full of dangers.’’
Among the 1,077 people who gave up Korean citizenship on May 6-23, just before the new nationality law took effect on May 24, 96.8 percent were male, indicating the main motivation was to avoid compulsory military service.
``Now I understand why there were so many people with dual citizenship rushing to the immigration bureau of the Justice Ministry to give up their Korean citizenship,’’ a mother whose 23-year-old son is serving in the Army near the DMZ, wrote on a different Web portal’s bulletin board. "

Ok, so this enlightens me to several things. First, every boy is expected to serve? That's news to me, but explains why there are so many ROKAF (Republic of Korea Air Force), ROCA (army), etc. walking around here. Secondly, the despicable treatment is, understandably, making them NOT want to serve. Lastly, and most disturbing...they are allowed to give up their citizenship, thus avoiding service...which simply puts more pressure on US, THE USA to guard and protect their interests from the North?!?! And, yet, they protest our presence here? No wonder they have been invaded and dominated so much throughout history.

Now, let me show you something else from the same edition...

"North Korea has ``no reason to hold even a single nuclear bomb’’ if the United States treats it in a friendly manner, the North’s chief delegate to the 15th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks said Wednesday....

North Korea also asked for additional food assistance on a humanitarian basis while expressing gratitude for the earlier shipments of rice and fertilizer aid....

In the 110-minute main session, the two sides also discussed ways to ease military tension along their heavily fortified border and reinvigorate various reconciliation projects, such as temporary reunions of separated families split apart by the 1950-53 Korean War....

Seoul also proposed a Red Cross meeting in July to discuss ways to locate South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) and some civilian abductees believed to still be in the North. The North’s delegates listened ``attentively’’ to the POW and abduction issues, the official said."

WHY would South Korea be willing to send much-needed aid to NK, when they are admittedly holding POWs and family members from SK?!?!? What kind of powder keg is my guy living in here? Please pray that the next 7 months of his stay here will not crescendo to a situation threatening him or our other boys here.

Charming Korea

I left something off of my list: CELL PHONE CHARMS! My sweetie made the comment when I first arrived here that everyone has a cell phone, even kids. My reply was that it seems to be that way in the USA also. But, it is way more out of control here. Everyone on the phone, all the time! From the little 12 year old girls on up, they're all talking and they all have....cell phone charms. I'd never seen one until my friend Alicia got one on a trip out of state a few months ago. But, I'm telling you now that it seems to be an included accessory with your purchase of cell phone here. So, of course, I had to go buy one. Now, I just got a simple one which is a hand braided, discrete little knot of green and yellow. But, they have some elaborate decorative ones...check out these FOOD cell phone charms. Weird. Anyway, they have crazy big cell phones here that do all kinds of things. One looks like it pops out wings and I can only imagine...they play games, music, probably vid-phone, dunno. But, since the headquarters of Samsung is here, I shouldn't be surprised, right?

안녕하세요?

That's "how are you?", in case you're wondering. Hello and "thank you" are the only phrases I can speak and that's just because they are the most often spoken by the Koreans here on base and in town. Although, I'm afraid we are mumbling something profane when we try to say "thank you", so we don't do it very often. Here is the phonetics of it: hello=annyeong haseyo. But, look at this: how are you=annyeong haseyo? And good bye= annyeong-hi gaseyo. For pete's sake! Of course, I guess English would seem as frustrating to a foreigner. With so many meanings for the same word, it can get confusing.
Anyway, I haven't written much because I've been rather busy. After the first week of being bored a lot, I spent most of last week seeing the sights. And now that I know my way around the base and in the town right outside the gates, I'm fine. Just trying to not spend too much money!
Let me mention a couple things. These are broad statements with exceptions, I'm sure, but I didn't see any.
1) Koreans LOVE ice cream!! This is strange, since no Korean restaurant I've eaten at has served dessert. In fact, they say that coffee is the dessert, or sometimes fresh fruit. They think Westerners eat too many sweets ... but there is an ice cream stand on almost every corner. And, I've never seen so many Baskin Robbins stores. I'd started to feel sorry for BK since they all seemed to be closing down in Arkansas, but now I see they are flourishing here in Korea!!
2)NO flip-flops! What is that about? I felt like a slob in Seoul with my flip-flops with everything. Back home, they're a staple to your wardrobe, but here, all the girls are tottering about on heels with everything. Or jellies... the shoes that were popular when I was in about 6th grade are very big here! JELLIES. That's a trend I hope I never get into again. Although, I liked the rubber smell...
3)No jeans!! To go along with their superior footwear, all the girls are wearing skirts. Those flowy types, which I do happen to wear a lot. But you'd think you'd see some women in shorts or pants or jeans or sweats or something...NO...I'm not kidding, I saw one girl in jeans the whole time we were in Seoul. And, that goes for men too. Even the construction workers here are wearing slacks with tucked in shirts and belts. No t-shirts either. Izod type shirts or button ups only. I'd say they should relax, but really they look very nice and made me feel sloppy for wanting to kick around in shorts. I'll not go into town again in shorts and flip-flops.
4)This is not a tourist destination. The only other Americans we saw were one couple from the Army base. Even on our English tour of one of the palaces, there were three Australians, two Germans and a gaggle of kids from the Korean School of Dallas...so they were American, but didn't look different, as we did. I felt like the main attraction at a freak show in Seoul. The first day we spent there, we went to the Korea War Memorial and Museum. There were hundreds of school kids there and they all wanted to say "HI". Picture it something like this: We walk by, Korean kids notice, one gets brave and says "HI!" followed by a round of giggles as they turn to their friends and probably say "can you believe it? I said HI! They speak English and look differenct! HAHA" I can't exagerate how many kids said hi to us and giggled uncontrollably that day. One older student came up and practiced a bit on my sweetie. He actually said "Where are you from? I am from Korea. She is cute." Then ran off to giggle with his teenage friends. Two days later when we returned to Seoul, a guy nearly had a wreck on his motorcycle as he turned his head 180 to look at me sitting on the bus stop bench. AN AMERICAN! WHOA. I told him that I've decided to think that they think I'm someone famous instead of a freak. Maybe they thought I was Sandra Bullock or something...here to film a love story. haha
Well, I will leave on that note, as this is a really long post. I'll catch up on more details later.

DMZ

My mother was asking me to explain exactly what the DMZ in Korea is and tell her a bit about the tour I'm going on next weekend, so I did some research. The Korean DMZ, as defined on www.korea-dmz.com is:

[The 38th parallel was created after the end of the Second World War when the U.S. and the Soviet Union divided the Korean Peninsula for their military stationing each in South and North Korea. Later, with the conclusion of an armistice formally ending the Korean War, this military line was transformed and hardened into today's Demilitarized Zone.]

Then, I found this article, which I am highly tempted to just copy because of its wonderful first hand description, but will merely link. It makes me a bit more guarded about taking the tour, but certainly drives home the understanding of why it is a tour which requires a dress code and utmost solemnity. It is a bit eerie that tour buses unload and walk you around areas where there are hostile soldiers dug into bunkers and mines so close at foot, as it were. It's not like trying to make the fuzzy-headed guards at Buckingham try to smile. The indication is that if you giggle at one of these soldiers, you might get shot. yikes

South Korean Memorial Day

My apologies...I thought Memorial Day here was June 8th! It was actually the day after I arrived here: June 6th. Here are a couple pics that I could find. I wonder why they are having their anti-American demonstration outside the base gates today? hmmm Anyway, that's supposed to start in about an hour. Apparently it happens quite often and we think it's for publicity (the news is coming). They say it's all the University students in Seoul that come down to stage the demonstrations. Maybe it's like Korea's version of Berkeley? Guess people are the same everywhere, eh?

I TOLD YOU SO

This post is for everyone that I've asked lately "Is the post office a govt. agency?" and they've argued with me that they KNOW it is... I knew I'd heard or read somewhere that it was actually a misconception that it is a branch, agency, whatever you call it of the US govt. While I conceded the argument at the time because my friends started to think I was stupid, I never let go of my resolve that I HAD heard that somewhere...and we all know I'm rarely wrong. teehee
Well, here is the best summary of my research, found on this site, which is basically some guy's rant about paying for his PO box or something like that...anyway, it makes my point and backs it up with references to govt. acts and everything. I TOLD YOU SO: "Well, local rumor [which I have not verified] says that my local "Post Office" [which is what the sign outside still reads at least 25 years after it ceased to be a Post Office of the United States of America] is a contractor to, or franchisee of, the USPS.That means they would be a private company [owned by: who knows?], contracting with THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, and doing business as my local Post Office.Or it may mean there is a branch of a "specalized agency" of the UNITED NATIONS [a foreign, and possibly "enemy", entity to the united States of America] openly and conspicuously maintaining a presence in my city, while pretending to be a representative of the united States of America."
Please read the entire post so that you can be a smartypants like me, while simultaneously making your friends THINK that you are stupid. :)

Koreans Love Golf...and other revelations

Yesterday (that's Monday here, but Sunday night in the USA), there was a going away lunch for one of 'the guys'. We ate at this place right by the golf course on base. Apparently the Koreans LOVE golf. They say there is a looong waiting list to play at the course because all of the Koreans living on base are out there 24/7. I must have passed a dozen courses and golf supply shops just between the airport and here. One of the guys at lunch said that the Wal-Mart in Seoul has three different departments with all golf supplies inside. Funny what various cultures latch on to as obsessions. The Germans have David Hasselhoff and the Koreans have golf!

Anyway, I ate bibimbap at the lunch. Glad that's out of the way. blech. Of course, the place didn't appear to be the best, but I was underwhelmed by the taste, to say the least.

After the lunch, it was back to the room to watch tv (all 10 channels that they have here!). Really, I feel like I've learned a lot about the AF, and especially this base. There is an Osan channel, which has tons of info. I'm more informed than my sweetie is now!

Ok, on to today... I was freakishly awake at about 4:30 a.m. His squadron PT'd today (every Tuesday), so I joined them in the gym for the 6 o'clock workout. They all seemed wiped out and tired, but I was good to go and curiously craving some Taco Bell. If only I could conjure up some of this jet-lag during the school year, I'd start every school day feeling GREAT. The down side will come today about 3, but I'm determined not to nap so that I can get on 'Korean time'.

On a more serious note: the Osan channel has warned of Anti-American demonstrations, which surprised me. I was under the impression that the South Koreans thought of Americans as their big brother, their protector from North Korea and even the Japanese, which are no friend of SK. Let me excerpt something I ran across today:

"Some Koreans object to the U.S. military presence because they feel American bases get a great deal on Korean land and the Korean government pays astronomical levels for troops here. Aspects of this might be true, but the U.S. has greatly helped develop Korea’s economy to internationally astronomical levels. Yes, the Korean government spends a significant amount on defense, but if the Koreans could not have relied on the Americans here then more military spending would have been necessary. If so, either Korea would not have had the required funds to develop their economic standing rapidly, or each Korean would have had a lot less disposable income as they would have had to pay more taxes. Granted, Koreans can be considered diligent workers and can be proud of helping their society’s advancement, but large degrees of the level of development in Korea and the level of affluence among Koreans is indirectly a result of America’s presence." You can read the entire article here, if you're so inclined.

Bimbimbap

So, you know this place (Osan Air Force Base) isn't that bad when you arrive and there are people walking into the on base hotel with Baskin Robbins cups! Seriously, this is NOT rough! Check out all you can do on base... cooking classes, VBS, foreign language classes, tours, movies...it's pretty nice.
But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you about getting here: it sucked. No other words describe it as well as that. The plane was a mere 212 degrees and eating meals onboard was like trying to dine on a roller coaster. Don't get me wrong...the food was amazing (I'd recommend Korean Air to anyone, if for nothing else than the fact that they have the prettiest planes and the most gorgeous airline attendants. Seriously, there is some major discriminatory hiring going on there. They all look like 18 year old porcelain-skinned actresses. If I were a Korean girl, that is definitely what I'd be!...ok enough of this parenthesied aside.) but it was hard to dine with all the little REAL dishes and silverware crowding my lap table and have good table manners during the turbulence. I found myself hoping that I wouldn't vomit my delicious meals because it would only add to the difficulty I was having with the lady next to me, who spoke no English or Korean. Talk about having it hard..she was disconnected from everything going on. She just used hand gestures and nods to communicate to us.
Ok, a little about the plane... it was HUGE. There was an upstairs, which I've never seen in real life. I imagine they were up there dancing around in ballgowns, eating 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" while I was crowded up, craning my neck to see the tv screen and wondering 'What's that smell?' most of the time. The postives were: 1) they showed three movies I'd never seen , including one surprisingly good Korean one called Mapado. It was clever, but in a very Western way, which may be why I was surprised. 2) they had little individually wrapped toothbrush/toothpaste sets in the bathrooms for us 3)they passed out cool towellettes after take off and hot towels right before dinner 4)they offered juice and water about 27 times..that's not an exageration! I'm sure I had about 3000 calories on that plane.
I have to admit I wasn't brave enough to eat the bibimbap, but I will do that soon. My sweetie and I had kimchi and bulgogi last night. It wasn't much different than the Asian food I've had in Little Rock. Maybe I should try the dog.... Which reminds me, he saw a big truck on the way to pick me up at the airport that was full of cages. You know, the ones we see on the highways carrying chickens? Yeah, they were full of DOGS.
Well, it's only 8 a.m. but I am thinking of walking over to the BX to see what I can waste some money on. I am too tired to try to go back into the nearby town, much less Seoul or Incheon. That can wait a few days. I did get some WON and let me say...the exchange rate isn't that great when you consider how much things cost. I traded $20 and got about enough for two movie tickets...but not quite. Isn't that sad?!? Anyway, that's most of it so far. Hope to be able to add pictures soon. Pray for him....I really want him to take some time off (he plans on working 12 hours today!), and if he doesn't spend some time with me I might get very testy and then he'd have to call of the wedding because he'd see how selfish I really am!

Overpacking and other travel hazards

So, I am all packed for my trip and trying desperately to keep my stomach from churning up some vomit (how ladylike of me to mention that, eh?). I am SUCH an overpacker that I fear it might actually be grounds for divorce someday. Not really, but I do take it to the extreme. I mean, do I REALLY need four pairs of flip flops? The answer is yes, for really, you need one in all the necessary colors ..white, black, green, brown, and blue. Wait, I just remembered red..make that five pairs. Am I crazy? I actually borrowed a monstrous backpacky looking duffle thingy from a friend because I didn't feel mine was big enough. And, I went to Old Navy and bought a BIG purse so that I can push the limits of my 'one carry on and a purse' restriction! I fear he may leave me at the airport when he sees me dragging all of this for him to load onto the bus. Yes, he's riding the bus to pick me up. I can't convince him to play in the Incheon Airport. I would really like to spend some time in it, because it apparently was ranked 5th in the world for International Airports and has some wonderful restaurants and shopping. Sad how little it takes to impress me, don't you think? Well, I've been reading my Korea tour book and did you know you can order dogmeat soup in some restaurants?!? I will be practicing the phrase "I don't eat meat" on the plane. Maybe I can lose a few pounds while I'm away.