SPAG-BOL

I tried to cook spaghetti Bolognese last night, but it's difficult to find the correct ingredients. I couldn't even find minced meat! but it tasted fine in the end.

The best part was trying to eat it with only chopsticks and a spoon! haha

SLEEP

Since I got my Iphone I've been using an app that records my sleep, My goal is to try and get 8 hours of sleep each night... But so far I've been underachieving

ANOTHER LITTLE VIDEO

We made this little video today, it's not very good... but i thought i'd share it anyway:

FLASH MOB

Last weekend we filmed a Michael Jackson Tribute flashmob at 'Shinsaegae Department store' which is supposedly the biggest department store in the world - it has a ice rink, spa, golf driving range, and a whole bunch of things that don't really belong in a department store. It's also right next to our office!

I didn't do a very good job of filming but I think one or two of my shots made it in haha. Anyway you can watch the film here:

CULTURE SHOCK / FATIGUE

This weekend I think I experienced cultural fatigue...

Culture shock sounds like a big smack in the face when you arrive somewhere entirely new and different to all that you have known before.

Culture fatigue seems a better way of describing how I felt. Its all the small things that you're trying to juggle and cope with, all the compromises, all the new encounters, having to be constantly focused and attentive in every conversation - and then try and force your mind and tongue around the language it all just adds up together leaving you very exhausted.

So I worked 6 days, and every day I finished at around 7-8pm (except friday was 11pm!) and take an hour bus / subway back home... but the problem is that when work is finished instead of being able to switch off I have to remain engaged and alert - whether i'm at church or meeting a friend or even just with Eun-mi.

So to save you from the sob story I spent most of saturday evening after work wiped out and anti-social at church, and then sunday I got very frustrated over an incident where Eun-mi was feeling upset and overworked at church. But the good thing about incidents is that you have to discuss them afterward. So i'm feeling a bit better now, I'm going to maybe ask for 2 days off a week instead just the one and see what they say - and on top of that just try stay positive.

I feel like language is the key to all of this, I'd like to begin attending classes if I can.

SYMPTOMS OF CULTURAL FATIGUE MAY BE CHARACTERIZED BY:

• sadness, loneliness, melancholy
• feeling powerless or angry
• lack of confidence
• longing for family

WEDDING REHEARSAL

Korean weddings only last a couple of hours, so it has become customary in Korea to have a 'wedding rehearsal' before you get married - this way you get to wear you wedding dress a bit more and can have photo's and video's of you and your partner in your Wedding attire.

It's quite different form our traditions in England, normally we're not allowed to see the bride in her dress before the big day.

So yes, it's very cheesy and very asian but this is what we do most of in our company: We shoot the couple in a day at a 'Rehearsal Studio' which is basically a studio with a whole bunch of movable and customisable sets (Everything, including the walls have wheels on them), and then we edit it to a cheesy love song. We have several to edit each week. I'm enjoying it so far, I hope it doesn't wear on me tho… or distort my understanding of love / marriage in any way…

 

IMMERSION

When I go to work I speak Korean

When I'm at home I speak Korean

When I'm at church it's all in Korean

When I'm with Eun-mi we talk in Korean

I went to a English speaking church last week and It was so surreal sitting down and having a conversation in English after having spoken only Korean for the past two weeks. I found myself being drawn to Korean conversations elsewhere haha.

I think i'm just really keen to improve as quick as possible, I'm really enjoying using Korean and i'm getting more and more used to it (but I still stumble over words all the time and keep having to ask people to repeat things), My Korean with Eun-mi is by far the best, working in Korea has presented a whole new set of linguistic challenges!

The other side-effect of my total Immersion is that I don't see any other faces but Koreans, so when I suddenly catch a glimpse of myself in an elevator or bathroom mirror I suddenly realise how white my skin is and how far my nose comes out of my face! it's really weird, it's like seeing westerns through asian eyes...