...My Classroom's in Another Country!

Field Trips and Japanese classes

2008-10-05T21:06:00.007+09:00

I didn't make a post all last week since I was just so crazy busy. I finally started Japanese classes last week. After almost 5 months here, I got off my but and started some classes. The Hyogo Prefectural government offers free classes for foreigners interested in studying Japanese. You simply buy the textbooks and come once a week (only once for the beginner class and twice weekly for the more advanced classes). It was definitely some great mental exercise last week during my first class. I almost blew a mental gasket. They assume that you can already read Hirigana and Katakana before you even begin (even though it's a beginner class). I can read Hirigana for the most part (mind you...I'm pretty slow at it) and start tackling Katakana tomorrow night!

As for teaching, last week was a week of ups and downs. It's been a little hard getting back into the swing of things after Sports Day. It's very refreshing to be "teaching" again, but most of my long-range planning was completely thrown out of whack because of the 2 plus weeks of "dance and game" practice leading up to Sports Day.

Check out my latest Youtube vid about a field trip I took with my class. We went to Awaji Island. It's just off the coast of Kobe, Japan and is still considered part of Hyogo Prefecture. The island is next to Shikoku.

Surreal Japan

We visited a rather strange place. It is a theme park called "England Hill" and has nothing to do with England. See the original here on my Youtube channel.

I'll try to make a few more posts in the next few days.

Amazing New Shots from North Korea...

2008-09-25T22:02:00.004+09:00

Alright...this has nothing to do with teaching, but many of the people who read this blog are teachers in South Korea. Many of the folks who read this blog will have an interest in seeing these amazing pictures that were just shown in the Boston Globe.

Many of the photos are by photographer Eric Lafforgue.

Check them out....they're really impressive!

Cheers,
Kevin

Reading in Your Classroom

2008-09-25T15:18:00.003+09:00

Teaching young learners how to read is obviously one of the most important duties of any teacher. Whether your students are sitting in your homeroom in Canada or are Korean students in your Tuesday/Thursday after school class in a hagwon, they need the basic skills of reading. When students are able to unlock the puzzles and mysteries of reading, their language skills and ability to think critically increase exponentially.

As a teacher there are so many different aspects of reading you must think about. Initially, students need the basic skills to decode text. Phonemic awareness must be acquired followed by basic phonics. Some of the initial seeds that must be planted are vocabulary and basic grammar. Once the emergent reader moves past these stages, a new world will begin to open for them.

I also believe that it`s a teacher`s responsibility to make reading FUN! A young learner should never look at reading as work. They should look forward to it. Whether your doing a read aloud, shared or guided reading, they should have a good time. When students equate reading with fun, they simply want to do it more often.

One way I`ve made reading more fun for my kindergarten class is by giving them a comfortable place to read. My `book nook` is a fun and inviting place where my students love to be. I often give then 10 minutes independent reading times and they love lying down with a nice pillow and exploring the books I have in my book bins. If your looking for ideas to make a more cozy reading are in your classroom, simply Google `reading center` or `reading corner.` I found a lot of ideas when I clicked on Google images after searching for this.

This is the "Book Nook" in my classroom. The white board was purchased at IKEA for about $30 and I made the tree using cardboard boxes and construction paper.

Once you have your reading area, set rules and guidelines. My students know that this isn`t an area for play. It`s for reading, story time or book talk. Now of course, this alone won`t make your students better readers, you have to plan and take the task very seriously.

If you are looking for some great ideas about how to teach reading more effectively, take a look here.
In many parts of the United States it`s referred to as Four Blocks. In the province of Ontario in Canada, it is now referred to as Comprehensive Literacy. I suggest reading up on different things such as Guided Reading, Shared Reading, Picture Walks, Independent Reading and Read Alouds.

I hope some of these ideas make you feel more confident in your ESL classroom or in any classroom for that matter.

Back to the Classroom...Back to curriculum!

2008-09-23T21:40:00.009+09:00

Alright...It's Tuesday night here in Japan and it was a National Holiday today. It's the Autumn Equinox and Fall temperatures will hopefully be here soon. Sports Day has come and gone. For the 2-3 weeks leading up to Sports Day, curriculum went on the back-burner as we prepared for the big day.

As of tomorrow morning, we'll be back to the regular routine and...well basically...I have to reteach my kids the old routine. They've all but forgotten. Circle time, Language, lunch, Math and then Science.

Also,I have to begin incorporating some more phonics games. We've been following some guidelines set forth by the British Ministry of Education and they've been teaching some brilliant new phonics theory to their teachers. I have a lot of homework to do myself in order to get myself up to snuff. Professional development work coupled with my new Japanese class that starts next week...I'm going to be a busy guy!

BTW...if anyone id familiar with the website ESL Cafe, I've posted an interesting link. I actually secured my second job in Korea through this website. I bypassed the "recruiter" stage and was hired directly by a school. It was a great little school in Ilsan, South Korea. It was called "Day By Day English Academy." It's not around anymore, but I have some fond memories of working there.

The founder of ESL Cafe is Dave Sperling. Here's a great podcast about how he started his site. It's a great listen for anyone who's working overseas doing the ESL thing or for anyone considering starting an ESL-type business venture....inspiring.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Sports Day in Japan

2008-09-22T08:38:00.006+09:00

Alright, it's a Monday morning and normally I'd be in homeroom, but I'm sitting at home having a coffee writing. Why is that? Well, I have the day off since I worked on Saturday. Saturday was our school's Sports Day. Sports Day is a really big deal in Japan. It's something students look forward to all year when they are in middle and high school, but in my school's case; it's something the parents really look forward too.

My students are too young to be playing games like soccer or baseball, but we had practiced several cool little activities for them. Many relay races, obstacle courses as well as some singing and dancing. I had absolutely no idea how time consuming it was going to be to get ready for Sports Day. More preparation hours than I want to count. We designed games that we thought would be appropriate for the kids and ones they would be capable of playing. We also wanted to make sure the games would be entertaining for all of the family members who would come to watch their little "future Olympians"! Then we practiced everyday for more than two weeks.

Unfortunately, for both the students, parents and teachers, the temperature shot up on Saturday and it was above 30C in the Kobe area. There was next to no shade on the sports field and by the end of the day I looked like a lobster.

Here's a little more about Sports Day in Japan from Wikipedia:

"Sports days are often a week-long event at Japanese schools. Preparation typically begins on a Monday and continues until Saturday, with the sports day being held on the Sunday. During the week preceding the sports day, students have no regular classes, but practice their events throughout each day, culminating in a full dress-rehearsal the day before the event, which often includes performances by the school band and presentations by various school clubs as well as individual and group competitive events. These practices, and the sports days themselves, normally take place on the schools' fields, which provide little relief from the heat and sun." Wikipedia article...

Here are also a few interesting videos about Sports Day in Japan.

In this vid, you can see some of the games and activities high school students do in a typical Sports Day. See original here...

This is a vid by my friend "KansaiPJ" as heis known on Youtube.

In this vid you can see some students at a private highschool in Osaka, Japan preparing team t-shirts for Sports Day. See original...

So, there's a little about Sports Day in Japan. It's a really big deal. I never encountered anything like this in my years working in South Korea or in Canada. It's pretty cool I think....hard work for the students and teachers though :)

Time to Teach Abroad?

2008-09-21T22:00:00.003+09:00

Alright; you’ve just finished your undergrad and you don’t know what’s next. You’ve just quit that pain in the ass job that caused you far too much stress and you don’t know what’s next. You’re thinking about traveling, but you want to do it in a way that will make you some coin at the same time. Why not do what so many have done before you? Teach English overseas!
The most popular destinations:

Japan – Japan is probably the best known spot for teaching ESL. With the economic slowdown of the 1990’s the job market has become far more competitive. There are definitely jobs in Japan teaching, but SOOOOO many people want to come here to teach that it can be tough to snag a gig! With the recent collapse of NOVA, the nation’s biggest ESL school, the market is tight. Schools do not provide airfare and you often must already be in the country to qualify for a position. SO….save up your coin, fly to Japan and then job hunt. Daunting? It may seem intimidating, but there are some schools who still hire from abroad…check out ECC, AEON and GEOS.

South Korea – a job seekers paradise. The ESL industry is busting at the seams. So many teaching jobs and not enough folks to fill the spots. If you have a degree in any subject and the will to head there, you’ve got a job. Often the sweetest deals are in Korea…free airfare/apartment plus a very good salary. The cost of living is low too!

China – Another market busting at the seams. Again, too many jobs and not enough people to fill the positions. The pay is fairly low in China as compares to its other North-East neighbors, but hey….it’s China…talk about a cultural experience to sit back and reflect upon for the rest of your life! The pay here averages about $800 a month.

Taiwan – Another well established ESL environment. The pay is good and apparently the working conditions are similar to that of South Korea and Japan.

Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia) – The pay is relatively low, but I think most people who desire to go to places like Thailand to teach are simply content with being in Thailand. For many prospective ESL teachers, gigs here seem to be more about location as opposed to pay!

So…if you’re feeling like heading off into the wild blue yonder for a year or two….or more, these are the most common places people go. Normally all you need is a university degree from an English speaking country, a passport, no criminal record and I suppose a spirit for adventure!

If you’re making the move…
Good luck!

Blogger Meets Teacher Meets Blogger

2008-09-20T23:50:00.004+09:00

It’s been a long time. I had all but forgotten about my little nook on the blogosphere. I’m back again though. I suppose I have been concentrating most of my online energy on my YouTube vlogging, I have a couple of channels and have mostly been concentrating on my “BusanKevin” presence.

In the past, this blog space was a dumping ground for the sensational and odd stories I found about life in Korea and Asia in general. I copied and pasted from several sources and hoped those of you out there reading would have a firm little chuckle! It was entertaining for some time, but the longer I have been away from South Korea (I was an ESL teacher for many years), my interest in many general and sensational news items has waned. To be honest, I no longer have the time nor interest to copy and paste silly articles that really hold no relevance for me.

I’ve decided to bring this blog back from the dead and concentrate on all things “teaching”. After many years teaching in Korea (and I took it seriously…for the most part), time teaching in Canadian classrooms and now as a teacher in Japan, I’m quite into education!

I’m going to focus this blog space on education. Whether you’re teaching phonics in a Korean hagwon or Japanese eikaiwa, bustin your hump in an International school or are a teacher in Canada, The States, England, Australia, etc. and thinking about spending some time teaching overseas; hopefully there’ll be something here for you.
I’ll do my best to post several times a week.

Little America in Japan? (America Mura) アメリカ村

2008-07-08T19:08:00.004+09:00

Last weekend I went into Osaka to do a few things. I checked out Sumiyoshi Shrine...for a fairly important reason....booking my wedding later this Fall. As well, I went downtown to Namba. Namba is the ever groovy heartbeat and pulse of Osaka's youth culture. Many an English teacher in Korea who had done a visa run to Osaka knows the place well. The Korean Consulate in Osaka is located in Namba, beside the cool areas Shinsaibashi and of course Dotonbori.

I walked all over the place. In one of my latest YouTube vlogs, you can see me checkin out America Mura (American Village). Is it really like America? NO, of course not!! It's completely different, but it's such a cool place. A young hipster's shopping paradise. I'm by no means hip, but for me it was a great place to people watch and admire how freakin' cool young Japanese people really can be!

American Village (America Mura) アメリカ村

A BusanKevin vid...

I saw the throngs of people gathered around the strange robotic-like clown wackin a drum when I was in Osaka last weekend. I wondered what the Hell was happening. Why do thousands of folks want a picture of such an odd thing?? Here's the answer!
Popular Osaka restaurant Cui-daore closes doors after 60 years
Mainichi
OSAKA -- Cui-daore, a popular restaurant here known for its drum-beating mascot, closes its doors on Tuesday, putting an end to almost 60 years of history.

Attention is now focused on the fate of the mascot, Cui-daore Taro. The restaurant, situated in the Dotonbori entertainment district in southern Osaka, has been flooded with inquiries about the mascot, many from people offering to buy it. The restaurant owner is negotiating with several people and businesses over the terms to buy it.

"We're asking them about their purchase conditions, and are considering each case. We can't easily decide (to whom we will sell the mascot)," said an executive of the company that operates Cui-daore restaurant.

The company is considering the possibility of displaying it somewhere in the Dotonbori district or continuing to hold the trademark rights over the mascot.

Life in Japan

2008-07-06T21:09:00.005+09:00

It's been a really long time since I've updated my blog. Sorry about that for all of those who are readers. I suppose I've been focusing my "content creation" juices towards my YouTube Channel. I've been having a lot of fun making videos about life in Japan and meeting other Japan-based video bloggers.

Things are going well for me in Japan. The initial few weeks were a little on the bumpy side, but I'm really enjoying myself here. Kobe is a great city and I'm constantly finding new little restaurants, cafes and cool places to shop. Of course, life here is never boring! It's always great to carry a camera in your pocket every time you leave the house since you'll always see something interesting, weird or cool! That is some advice I'll give to anyone living in Korea, Japan, China, etc. Always have a digital camera in your pocket. Especially one with video/audio capabilities, because you're almost guaranteed to encounter something strange everywhere you go.

Here's something I came across recently. A glimpse into the slower side of life in Japan. Normally, when you see documentaries about living here or YouTuber blogs, it's about the fast-paced life in places like Tokyo and Osaka. This is a mini-documentary about an Australian who is a rice farmer in rural Japan (Shikoku).

Japan: The Slow Life

The best Japanese food you won’t easily find outside of Japan

Forbes Magazine has an article about the “Best Japanese Foods You Can’t Get At Home.” The full list of foods is in photo slideshow form, and starts with natto, a food that many foreigners apparently do not like.

Japanese underdog, hot to reclaim NY gluttony title, gets 2 fewer minutes
Mainichi
NEW YORK (AP) -- He's suddenly the hot dog underdog.

World renowned competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi of Japan is aiming to chomp his way back to the top of Friday's annual Fourth of July hot dog eating competition on Coney Island after a disappointing three-dog loss last year shattered his six-year winning streak.

And this year it could be even harder -- organizers said two full minutes would be shaved from regulation time after it was recently revealed that the original competition in 1916 was just 10 minutes long, instead of the 12-minute limit used in more recent years.Read More...

Tommy Lee Jones in Japan??

A BusanKevin vid...

"The Office"....Japanese version!

2008-05-21T20:33:00.003+09:00

We all know that the hit American television show "The Office" actually began as a British show. BUT....did you know that, the British version was actually inspired by a Japanese "Office"? hehe...check out this SNL skit!

The Japanese Office

Kobe Matusri...pics and vids....

2008-05-19T22:25:00.005+09:00

Well...as I mentioned in my previous post, I went to the Kobe Matsuri. It was a cool time. It wasn't the "traditional" matsuri many people may think of with folks running around carrying giant shrines and screaming "bonzai." It was more of an international themed festival with a wide variety of acts and show performing.

Here is a video I put together for my Youtube Channel about the Kobe Matsuri.

It was a beautiful and sunny day, but pretty damn hot. After a few hours of checkin stuff out in the sun, I was spent! See the original...

This was my first festival in Japan so Idefinately thought it was very cool. I'll be off to the Himeji Matsuri in a few weekends. Apparently it will be a more "pure" matsuri. It will be much more traditional without all of the corporate sponsorship and "international" flare.

Kobe Matsuri and other things

2008-05-18T18:37:00.004+09:00

Again, it's been awhile since I've updated and a great big ol' apology for that. I've just been busy. Getting adjusted to life here in Japan hasn't been as easy as I expected, but things are certainly turning around. There were a few bumps here and there, but no most things are organized.

Golden Week came and went. It was nice to have the time off between school in Canada and work in Japan, but I was really starting to get bored. I've been meeting more people and getting out to do more and more things.

Yesterday Mai and I went to Mt. Rokko. We took a cable car to the top and had lunch at a "Swiss-themed" botanical garden. Swiss-themed you might ask?? Well stop asking! One thing I learned years ago while living in Asia was to stop asking the question; "Why?"

This is me checking out the "Swiss Wonderland" in the middle of Japan!Original here....

Today Mai and I went downtown in Kobe and checked out the Kobe Matsuri. It was the 38th year for the Kobe city festival and I had a great time. It was a sunny day and I had the chance to hear some great music. The traditional drummers from Okinawa were definately the coolest thing for me. I'll post some Kobe Matsuri pictures and video later on.

To everyone in Ottawa...hope everything is great. Looks like summer is around the corner. Wish I was there for Ottawa Race Weekend!!! For everyone in Busan and Seoul....keep rockin!

Golden Week

2008-05-06T12:57:00.003+09:00

I realize it`s been awhile since I`ve updated, but I still don`t have internet at home yet.

It` the end of japanese Golden Week and everyone will be forced to go back to work and school tomorrow. it will be my first day at the new job so I`m excited. Yesterday was Children`s Day. I happened to be on the waterfront at Meriken Koen yesterday to see some of the festivities. Check`em out!

Children`s Day in Japan

I was also hiking again a few days ago on Mt. Rokko in Kobe. I came across a little traditional Japanese house in a pretty sweet location.

Once I`m online at home I`ll update more frequently.

I moved to Japan!

2008-04-28T16:33:00.002+09:00

Here are my first 3 Vlogs about my move to Japan. I've been here for almost a week.

Vlog20...I'm in Japan

Vlog21 My Sleepy Yet Industrial Japanese Neighborhood

Vlog22 IKEA Madness in Kobe!

Check out my Japan Youtube vids here...

Beer Machines and stuff...

2008-04-24T20:25:00.003+09:00

Day 2 and I was feeling great until about 6pm and the jetlag kicked in again. I'm totally exhausted, but things are still fine. I went to my new school in Akashi this afternoon. I just wanted to check things out and find out what time I'm expected there in the morning. I'll observe classes there tomorrow morning and at another branch on Monday morning. Then Golden Week...which means I won't actually start teaching til May 7th. That's going to be a nice break for me to relax, settle into the new apartment (which will be in Kobe) and take in more things Japanese!

For those of you who live in Japan or have done the visa run thing there from Korea; you'll recognize this contraption. For my friends and other watchers from Canada and places "not-Japan", this may be a strange sight. Yes...it is what you may thing. A beer vending machine on the street. They aren't everywhere, but there are some. Reasonable prices compared to convenience stores too! HeHe...I find them amusing...hence the picture.

I can't imagine if these things were in Canada. They'd be torn out of the wall and stolen within minutes!!!

Hermit Kings...Rockin Busan! (old footage)

2008-04-14T07:56:00.003+09:00

I came across some old footage last night and spliced some of it together to make this little vid. If you were living in Busan last year, you might remember the Hermit Kings. We used to play a lot at Ol'55 and U2. This is from a gig at Interplay by PNU. We were playin Balance Beam by Blue October.

Balance Beam...Hermit Kings

See original...
The Kings were...
Mike, Gino, Tom, Travis and Kevin(Moi).

Had so many vids where I couldn't se myself hiding behind the drums so I set the camera up backstage. Good times. Gino, Mike and Travis are still rockin it out in Busan as we speak!!!

Go Sens Go

2008-04-10T07:08:00.009+09:00

Here we go! I serious dose of all things Canadian, days before I move to Japan. The Stanley Cup playoffs start tonight and Ottawa's very own Senators are in Pittsburg to take on Sid "The Kid" Crosby and his Penguins. Are the Senators expected to do well?? No...they are considered the underdogs. With several key injuries, such as Daniel Alfredsson, and the lack of drive, feeling and goaltending this season the Sens have their work cut out for them.

Of course, since I'm teaching at an elementary school here in Ottawa...things are Sens crazy. My students are more excited than excited can be.

I'll cross my fingers with everyone else in Ottawa tonight at 7:00pm and hopefully the Sens can turn things around for themselves.

At least I'll get to be here in Canada for a few games of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the time difference, I doubt I can catch many if not any at all, games.

"Get well Mr. Alfredsson"

So....Good Luck tonight boys!!! Kick some Penguin BUTT!!!

ESL Teachers and rappin in Korea!

2008-03-15T09:43:00.006+09:00

This made me laugh my ass of for a good 5 minutes. Some ESL teachers in Geumchon, Korea made a hip hop video about the "Life of a Waygook" in Korea. FUNNY STUFF!!!!

"Kickin' It In Geumchon"

See the original here!

I love the ajumma visors they wear in the vid!! hehe

Thanks to my buddy Arin for sending the like to me!

HOLY CRAP....ThE WEATHER!!!!!

2008-03-09T14:59:00.002+09:00

The Prelude to the storm...(this is supposed to be Ottawa's worst snw storm in recorded history!)

original...

Wow...the SHIT has hit the fan weather wise...sometimes you can see a Good Samaritan during this kind of weather....

See original vlog...

Japan's Obama city backs Obama

2008-03-06T06:45:00.008+09:00

Japan's Obama city backs Obama
Obama in Japan cheers for Barack Obama despite his losses in Texas and Ohio.

Residents of Japan's Obama City sang special songs and danced hula to root for U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama as crucial primary results unfolded.

Japan blues in hip hop nation
A 26-year-old American with a hip hop blues hit is No. 2 on Japanese charts, the world's second biggest music market.

Enka music is only a fraction of Japan's multi-billion dollar industry, but Jerome White's star is rising as recent TV appearances bring his sound and hip hop look to the nation.

Oh yeah....I almost forgot....some Canadian content! Today was a miserable blizzard here in Ottawa. I had my Schooling in Society class in the morning and then strcuk out to find the school where I will do my next teaching practicum. I'll be mostly teaching Language Arts and Mathematics in a 6th Grade class....starting on St. Paddy's Day.
Kevin's Snowday!

Namdaemun Gate

The Cultural Heritage Administration installed a covering on top of the ruins of Namdaemun, which was destroyed by a recent fire, to protect the remains of the wooden structure from rain, snow and wind. The administration said a clear temporary roof will be added to the structure during restoration work. [YONHAP]

Armed panty thief teacher denies charges as trial opens
Mainichi

OITA -- A former public high school teacher accused of robbing women of their panties at knifepoint denied the charges against him as his trial opened at the Oita District Court, saying he intended to be indecent and not rob them.

Tetsuya Watanabe, 27, the former teacher, is fighting the charge of robbery resulting in injury on a technicality, saying he had no intention to steal women's underwear and therefore is not guilty.

"His interest in underwear was indecent but he had no intention of stealing cash, bags or other valuables," a defense lawyer said, announcing that Watanabe denied the charge against him.

Prosecutors, however, say that Watanabe was a habitual thief.

"From 2004 on, he repeatedly waylaid women on the streets at knifepoint and threatened them into handing over their underwear to him," a prosecution lawyer said.

Watanabe is charged with two counts of robbery resulting in injury. The first case stemmed from an incident on Sept. 11, 2004, when he was charged with threatening an Oita woman at knifepoint, demanding she give him her panties and hurting her breasts.

The second count arises from a similar incident on July 4 last year, where he was indicted for waylaying a woman in an Oita parking lot and holding a paper cutter at her until she removed her panties. He is charged with injuring her hand during an ensuing struggle.

original...

Kobe and Yokohama ranked among Asia’s favorite spots for expats…

2008-03-05T09:21:00.006+09:00

Kobe and Yokohama ranked among Asia’s favorite spots for expats…
In a recent survey conducted by ECA International a human resources firm specializing in expatriates and which operates in 71 countries, Kobe and Yokohama both rank in the Top 10 best locations in the world for Asian expats.

The survey takes into account things like safety, cleanliness, crime rate, housing, health etc. For Asian expats, Singapore took the number 1 spot with Sydney 2nd and Melbourne tied with Kobe in 3rd place. Yokohama also made the top 10 in 8th place. The other cities in the top 10 are Copenhagen, Denmark 5th, Canberra, Australia in 6th, Vancouver, Canada in 7th, Wellington, New Zealand in 9th, and Dublin, Ireland in 10th place.

That Japanese cities rank so highly says a great deal about the relative safety of Japan, and those cities in particular. It also says something about the level of general cleanliness in the cities… The two cities chosen are also two of the busies port cities in Japan as well as two of the earlier ports opened to Western commerce.

Are there any other reasons why you think these cities are so popular among Asian expats? What other cities in Japan should have gone ahead of them? Any reasons why these cities should not be in the Top 10?
Japan Probe

I think this is an REALLY important story. Anyone involved in the ESL world should take notice of what can happen to those unfortunate to be injured abroad.
Foreign Teachers Campaign for Colleague Injured in Fire
Korea Times

William Kapoun, 26, loved teaching kids. But the young, confident American will not be able to continue what he loves ― at least for a long while. About 10 days ago, a fire broke out at his apartment at dawn and left him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body.

The part-time teacher at Bulam Elementary School in northern Seoul is now in intensive care. He will have to endure reconstructive surgery on numerous occasions and a lengthy recovery. Despite the will to live, however, he lacks the means to fight the brutal battle.

The blaze not only altered his body and dreams but also laid bare working conditions that are void of shelters or insurance schemes against such terrible accidents. His full treatment is estimated to cost roughly $130,000.

His parents flew over immediately. They are also shocked by the staggering costs as he has no health insurance under his contract . ``He lived in an unsafe apartment. There was no sprinkler system or fire alarm and he had only one exit, which was blocked by the fire,’’ Dan Kapoun, 53, father of William, told The Korea Times at the hospital in Seoul.

The father lamented the absence of any clear insurance policy. ``I think whoever hires someone should take responsibility for making sure there is insurance,’’ he said.

He said his son was very happy when he decided to go to Korea. ``My son was very adventurous. He thought it would be a very good thing to teach English here, not only for him but also his students.’’

Kapoun Burn Fund

Bulam Elementary School, the employer of the victim, said that the school is not obliged to provide any insurance coverage to employees working less than 15 hours a week in line with the Labor Law. The school has some 10 other part-time foreign teachers working under similar conditions.

William initially started to teach at a hagwon before transferring to the ``after-school’’ English programs that paid him some 2.2 million won a month. He has worked here for 14 months. He holds a double-bachelors degree in history and economics from Indiana University, his home state school.

With his parents in a difficult financial situation, his friends and colleagues are joining hands to launch a campaign to raise funds via the Internet at http://www.billkapoun.com

Read More...

Misuda Shakes off Koreans'(Tries to!)Prejudices against Foreign Women

The women who appear on the KBS2 TV show “Chat With Beauties” — also called “Misuda” — are shaking off the prejudices that Koreans have regarding foreign women.

On the February 25th episode of Misuda, the topic of discussion was “myths Korean men believe about foreign women.”

The women said that Korean men think that foreign women “are glamorous”, “Japanese women are obedient”, “blondes are ditzy”, and “we came here to marry Koreans or to work”.

Australian Kirsty used herself as an example. “In Korea and Australia there is prejudice against blonde women. People think that blonde girls have cute looks but empty heads.” Kirsty, by the way, recently got married to a Korean man.

Next, Uzbekistani Guzal said, “in our country people think that blondes are dumb and sexy, and act slutty. But that’s not true. I have a lot of blonde friends and they’re really smart.”

Emi spoke about prejudices about Japanese women. “People think Japanese women are submissive but that’s not true. A lot of Korean guys think so and meet me and get disappointed.”

She added, “it might be just me but in Japan I was kind of like that and when I came to Korea and saw women doing things for men and didn’t want to be that and became a little less obedient.”

Guzal said that because of the prejudices held by Koreans about foreign women, “when I came to Korea people asked me a lot if I had come to work or to mary a Korean. But they were surprised when I said I was a student.”

Daria, of Russia, said, “it seems when Koreans see a pretty foreigner they think she is Russian. And most of them ask if you came here to work. Korea and Russia are having increasing exchanges, and lots of people are becoming international students or going to Korea for cultural exchanges so I hope people don’t have such misconceptions any more.”
Korea Beat Asianoffbeat

Big breasts help actress to get conviction overturned
Mainichi
Actress Serena Kozakura's conviction for willful destruction of property has been overturned by the Tokyo High Court because her large breasts revealed flaws in the testimony against her.

Reconstruction during an appeal hearing of the 38-year-old actress's alleged crime of breaking down the door in a man's apartment showed her breasts prevented her from climbing through a door as the man testified she had done, casting doubt on his reliability.
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Winterlude and Bonsai Potatoes

2008-02-18T11:39:00.003+09:00

Hopefully, as a sign that the end of Winter is approaching, Winterlude 2008 came to a close today. Ottawa's annual winter festival is known for its ice sculptures, skating on the Rideau Canal(apparently the world's biggest skating rink....7km long)and the infamous Beaver Tails...Ottawa's own high calorie winter-time snack.

With only a couple of days left in Canada, Mai and I took a trip to the canal yesterday. It was a gorgeous day. the sun was shining and hordes of folks stumbled along the canal. Many sober, some maybe not! We lived the "Ottawa Winterlude Cliche" and followed up some skating with Beaver Tales and coffee. It was nice, but again, I can't wait for this winter to be over. This was my first time in Canada in almost 6 years during the Winter and I have to admit...I wish I wasn't here for the Winter...to damn cold!

Throngs of people stumble about, making merry and eating deep-fried bread snacks (Beaver Tails). Many were skating, some walking and some simply rolled about on the ice with skates attached to their feet.

On our way to Starbucks on Elgin Street for a coffee and a chance to warm-up, we admired some definite "widow-maker" icicles!

It's Zen Without the Wait!!!!
"Are you the type of person who longs for patience and tranquility in your life? Of course you are, but in our modern society who has the time? Now it's possible. With the items contained in this kit you can quickly and efficiently reach an inner peace that can take monks an entire lifetime to achieve."

That's what it says when you take a look at the home of the Bonsai Potato.

Just when you think you life couldn't possibly get weirder....it does. I suppose this is a case of the Orient meets Idaho!

On a non-potato topic. I came across this weird pic today. I took it last year while walking to a restaurant in Busan. I think I had been hiking and consuming beer on Jangsan (a local mountain) and saw this giant dog-house-thingy.

Not sure what it was. Possibly a vet's office...maybe a pet shop...hopefully not a dog restaurant. Doubt the last one though...doggie restaurants in Korea are normally more discreet with their signage.

The Big Baby on Video...

2008-02-17T15:15:00.003+09:00

Here's a little Ron Mueck action at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa....set to an amusing tune...

I was kickin it at Rideau Canl all afternoon with Mai...shufflin about the iceand eatin Beaver Tails...pictures to come tomorrow!

Big Baby Time...

Damn...that's a BIG BABY!!!

2008-02-15T08:39:00.009+09:00

Alright. it's Valentine's Day here in Canada...and other places around the world as well. I spent the afternoon at the National Art Gallery here in Ottawa and I wasn't alone. My entire Teacher Education section from the University of Ottawa went to the Gallery this afternoon for our Arts class. Mai came along as well and we all had a good ole time. I've been to the Gallery at least 4 or 5 times since I moved to Ottawa last summer. The most exciting part of this trip for me was to see the BIG BABY...as I call it or as it's properly called, "A Girl" by the Australian artist Ron Mueck.

Here it is..."A Girl" by Ron Mueck....or as I call it....the big ole gross baby!!! This thing is huge. It seems that most people are either horrified by it or think it's great. Either way, everyone is transfixed by it!

"A Girl" was donated to the National Gallery last Fall. Here I am hammin it up. As you can see...it's damn big. The eeirest thing about it is the detail. You can see the amniotic fluid, the pores on the skin and the hair looks especially realistic...therefore...nasty.

Some classmates wanted to capture the moment in a complimentary pose! Shall I call this one "A Girl and A Boy"?

According to CBC news...."A Girl is a 4.5-metre-long sculpture of a newborn, her eyes half shut and hands clenched, and umbilical cord still attached.

Mueck uses modern acrylics and other sculptural techniques taken from the film industry to create the true colours and textures of human skin, but all of his sculptures are out of scale — either much larger or smaller than their inspiration."

Here's an intersting blurb about Canadian English Teachers...in Canada. I read this in the Korea Times. The great Korean "Unqualified vs. Qualified" ESL teacher debate continues...and will for the next 10,000 years I think!
Canada’s English Programs

More crappy news for some of Nova's former language instructors in Japan...
Neo-Nova "Fires" Instructors

Some more sad news about the tragic fire that destroyed Seoul's Namdaemun Gate...
Collapsed Landmark Draws Mourners

TABERNACK!!!! As they say here in Canada. Damn...what do you do when you need to take a train somewhere, but the ticket guy is sleeping in????? Well...some folks in Japan suffered this "inconvenient" fate...
Train passengers unable to use ticket machines after employee sleeps in

Vinegar-Chocolate for Valentine's!

2008-02-14T10:41:00.007+09:00

Parents Want More Native English Teachers
Parents in Seoul are demanding more native English-speaking teachers for their children at schools. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), more and more ward offices in Seoul have allotted money to recruit foreign teachers because of the growing demand from parents in each district.

Last year, some 5.24 billion won was collected from four ward offices and the Seoul Metropolitan Government to employ native English teachers at schools in the capital.

The education authority expects the amount of money will double this year to 10 billion won.

``Many ward office chiefs vowed to increase the number of native-speaking teachers in their election campaigns. To that extent, they are increasing the necessary funds,’’ said Choi Chun-ok, a supervisor in charge of recruiting foreign English teachers at the office.

As the ward offices do not have staff to select qualified foreign teachers, except Gangnam-gu, they are leaving recruitment to the SMOE, she added.

More than five ward offices plan to make an agreement with SMOE on Thursday and Friday this week for the employment of foreign teachers in their districts.

Jongno-Gu Office has reserved 750 million won for the project; Nowon-Gu, 520 million won; Dobong-Gu, 400 billion won; Jungnang-Gu, 300 million won; and Gwanak-Gu 200 million won.

Under the agreement, 31 elementary and 15 secondary schools will have foreign English teachers from the spring semester.

SMOE has recruited native English-speaking teachers for schools since September 2005 to teach at 572 elementary and 665 secondary schools.
Korea Times

This is just nasty. there are many wonderful things about Japanese cuisine, but there are also some MAJOR mistakes!!! Anyone remember Cucumber Pepsi??? Ackkk...
Vinegar-flavored chocolate hits shelves for Valentine's Day
OKAYAMA -- Consumers here will be able to pick up vinegar-flavored chocolate for Valentine's Day following its development by Okayama Prefectural University scientists and prestigious Japanese confectionary maker Minamoto Kitchoan.

The research team that developed the chocolates did so because of the purported health benefits of acetic acid, large quantities of which are normally found in vinegar.

Two types of vinegar-flavored chocolates will go on sale, one with a vinegar sauce and the other a chocolate containing raisins that have been soaked in vinegar.

Sales started Monday and will be limited to 100 sets sold only in two Okayama stores.

Vinegar-flavored chocolates will be sold in 3-piece sets, each of which costs a hefty 1,050 yen, ensuring the sweet and sour flavor extends beyond the taste buds.
Mainichi Daily News

My financee is from Osaka so I thought this would be a fitting Valentine's treat. I just wish I could get one here in Ottawa!

Chocolate In Disguise: “Okonomiyaki Chocolate Cake.”

The next Valentine treat looks like a normal Okonomiyaki, a kind of mixed pancake that is a mainstay of Japanese cuisine, but actually this is genuinely made of the delicious brown stuff, together with rich flavours of rum and Belgian chocolate. Incidentally, its Hiroshima-based confectioner, Toraya, has a repertoire of 380 products with a whole range of sweets that look like real savoury dishes, including sushi-shaped roll cakes and custard pudding resembling Chawanmushi.
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