 Ryan McCormick - Ryanmc | All Comments |
Comments | |
| 17th September 2009 Ryanmc | Daejeon - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon I'm sure you are probably right, I am sure there are several good things about Daejeon, but I didn't see any of them. I do know people that live there (that was the reason I went there in the first place) and they didn't seem to have a very high opinion of it either. That's just my feeling. Sure, I could go back, and give it chance to redeem itself, but why even bother. There are so many better places to go in S. Korea. I would just assume go to Seoul or Busan. |
| 12th September 2009 Chris Peterson | Classy - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon Really classy, trashing an entire city based on some bad experiences in one night. You don't know jack about Taejon, dude. I grew up in Taejon, and it's a great city. Maybe next time you should look a little deeper than some crappy yogwan downtown. Your characterization of Taejon based on one night is just as ignorant and small minded as any racist viewpoint, like the bouncer in question. If you're still reading this, I would encourage you to give the city a second chance. If you want to REALLY see what Taejon is like, maybe you should try to touch base with someone from the American community in Taejon and ask them to show you around. |
| 31st July 2009 Mom | grammar - From: Some thoughts Ry, I'm afraid with email, IM's, texting, and all the forms of quick communications these days proper spelling and grammar is not important to most people any more unfortunately. |
| 28th July 2009 Geronimo | stuff - From: Some thoughts I agree that the guy in Texas is way out of line. I had contact after leaving Poland with a teenage girl who didn't have a dad and would ask for advice which I gave but no invites or gifts. She would hint about me marrying her mom. Another one in Ukraine was in the same situation. She was dating an Arab who was in the local Medical school. I told her many times to be careful but she didn't believe me. When he graduated he took her back to Yemen, I think, and she hasn't been heard from since. Her mom has many times emailed me about sending her $10,000 to hire someone to find her and bring her back but I couldn't come up with $100.00. |
| 16th June 2009 Ryanmc | Ummm...wow... - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon I'm speechless. |
| 8th June 2009 Anthony Allbright | The South Korean Adolescent Mentality - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon I spent a year teaching corporate business English with the LG company in Daejeon South Korea. My observations; The adolescent, childish mentality that dominates the Korean psyche is astounding. This nationalistic society, even though having democratic precepts and idealism, they are still a far cry from a truly free-thinking people. There really is been minimal differences in attitudes and mental development here since the day of liberation in 1957. This country "South Korea" is wealthy in many material things, but still very much stuck in a Third-World mentality. Hopefully, either the North, or the South will take over one, or the other and become a totally democratic, or communist society and not a bastardization of both! |
| 12th April 2009 Ryanmc | Whiskey (Whisky) - From: A lot has happened... I don't know. Not a big whiskey drinker. You can get it, if you are willing to pay for it. Beer works fine for me. |
| 12th April 2009 Geronimo | Happy Easter to you too! - From: A lot has happened... I think I'd stay away from that frozen Wu Shu. (or whatever it is)But probably no Irish whisky available. Do the Irish use the e in their product or only the Scottish? |
| 16th March 2009 Ryanmc | one difference... - From: Half way through my contract between here and El Paso is that people were being stationed there by the Army. The people here CHOOSE to be here, and nothing is forcing them to come here, and only the contract they signed into is keeping them here. I don't understand it. But I agree that people just don't look at it the right way. |
| 15th March 2009 Mom | experience - From: Half way through my contract What you said about being open-monded about any experience is so true. When Dad and I were first married and he was stationed in El Paso, there were so many who hated it there, but they didn't go out and see what the area had to offer either, was mostly that it was different, desert, from what they knew. Just chose to sit and complain. Sounds like you do need to get into the public school system though? big pay difference, wow! |
| 23rd February 2009 Ryanmc | Cute???!!!! - From: Just a quick update... There was nothing cute about it. It was terrifying. |
| 22nd February 2009 geronimo | good - From: Just a quick update... Very positive news! Keep up the good work! |
| 22nd February 2009 Mom | update - From: Just a quick update... I'm glad Sunny was able to help you get a suit, $400, must be a nice one! That's impressive about the possibility of a job at corporate office, I think, personally I'd rather you were back on US soil again! Is Sunny aware of your reason for coming to D.C.? Cute about the kids attacking you! Sounds like some of your cub scout meetings in the past! hmmmn, paybacks!! LOL |
| 28th January 2009 Ryanmc | p.s. - From: Happy Lunar New Year It may be a bit confusing. It was a first draft, I finished about 4am and couldn't be bothered to do any real edits. I'll go back and look at it to see if I can make it clearer. The funny thing is, that when I finally called it quits, my tab for the PC bang was a bit more than my cash on hand--only about $10, but I only had around $4--but they didn't take a debit card. So I tried to tell the man at the counter that I needed to get some cash, and left my ID for collateral, I think he understood. So here I am at four in the morning trying to find an ATM, all of the bank machines are behind locked doors, but I found an all night party store. Came back and paid the man, and said in Korean that foreigners are stupid and he laughed, so I think he was alright. |
| 28th January 2009 Ryanmc | If you have to ask... - From: Happy Lunar New Year who the Sacheon legend is, you wouldn't understand. He is just another English teacher, a Kiwi (New Zealander). Like I said about my stories, pretend they are fiction, and enjoy them for their literary merit. |
| 28th January 2009 Mom | huh? - From: Happy Lunar New Year Ry, I'm thinking I should maybe stop reading these stories of yours!! ( : Not only do they scare me too much, they confuse me!!! So, who exactly is the Sacheon Legend? I re-read that part about him joining you and I can't figure out who he is! |
| 18th January 2009 Mom | Socks - From: More non-sequitor ramblings Why didn't you tell me you needed socks with pictures on them? Hee Hee |
| 7th January 2009 Ryanmc | - From: My Computer Broke... I have been looking at new computers here, but they are all still just out of the range that I want to spend. I looked at LG and Samsung, both Korean companies, but the price is still too much for what I want. Plus if I want an English O/S, it will cost me extra. The Japanese yen is way up right now (or it was, I don't know if it still is), so anything Japanese here is super expensive. I think Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities though, so everything there will be more expensive. With the Korean won being way down, I am getting paid less than I should be because of the exchange rate, which dropped hard and fast. When I signed my contract, it was 1000 won to the dollar, now it is around 1400 won. I guess what I'm trying to say, I can't afford anything right now. |
| 7th January 2009 Ryanmc | - From: My Computer Broke... I said he could come, he just never did. |
| 5th January 2009 Mom | Turtle - From: My Computer Broke... Ry, I cracked up reading your "observations"! especially about the snapping turtle vs. just a slow turtle!! and shame on you! not letting your wu shu master come stay with you! ( ; |
| 5th January 2009 geronimo | Happy New Year! - From: My Computer Broke... Good to hear from you! I was wondering what was up. Are laptops cheaper or more expensive there? I was in Japan many moons ago. I had just bought a Japanese camera at the regular price in the states. I happened to see the same camera in a shop window in Tokyo. It was about 25 percent more expensive. Cars there were also more expensive. Seemed like with shipping costs it should have been the other way around. Keep up the good work. I much enjoy reading about your experiences. |
| 5th January 2009 Ryanmc | I am pretty cool... - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon Thanks for pointing that out! I miss all of you guys though. Take care. Tell Uncle Dave and Aunt Sue I said 'hi'. |
| 3rd January 2009 Heather McCormick | - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon hi, i think ur pretty cool if u now what i mean !!!!! see ya |
| 14th December 2008 Mom | address - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon Hey Ry, Could you send me Sunny's real name and address to the school again please? Any updates coming on here? Love you! |
| 6th December 2008 Mike N | Those who can't teach... - From: Those who can't do, Teach ...teach gym, I believe is how the joke goes, at least over on the East Coast (of the USA, that is). I know I'm about 3 months late on that but I wanted to make you knew what your options were in case you decide you can't teach. |
| 29th November 2008 Ryanmc | I apologize... - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon for offending you so thoroughly. That was not my intent and I am deeply sorry. I am guilty myself of some of the prejudices and generalizations that I have found so annoying. It is clearly a sore issue with both countries claiming historical control for hundreds of years. The nationalistic protests stemming from this territorial dispute, however, is what I have found most troubling. In 2005, when protests erupted again over what was seen as Japanese aggression on the islands, 'Overwhelmed by fury, protesters have sliced off fingers, set themselves on fire, and in one case committed suicide by jumping off a bridge'according to the BBC. Or hundreds of people taking to the streets to have Japanese advertisements removed from the subway. Is this rational behavior? I obviously cannot claim to understand what the Korean people have gone through in the history of relations with Japan, but I can say that I am shocked by the reaction that past actions continue to be espoused by a new generation of Koreans who were not directly affected or even old enough to understand the intricacies of the situation. When I have a ten-year-old student out of the blue tell me that she wants to kill Japanese people, of course I am going to be concerned. Where did she learn this attitude? She clearly did not just one day think that all Japanese are bad and therefore should be killed. Her parents are evidently passing down a message of hate, maybe not explicitly, but the message is coming through regardless. It is not clear yet that when she becomes old enough to understand the issues and make informed decisions on her own that she will know to turn away from this unsubstaniated hate. I would be equally as concerned if I was teaching back in the US and a white student told me he wanted to kill blacks. I commented on this to my director, who does have a good command of English and with whom I have had several talks regarding complex social and political issues, and she replied simply to me, "I hate Japan'. Now I have done my research regarding the issue, I had just wanted to simply state what I thought the problem was in my post. It is evident that the issue is more ideological than anything, and the economic benefits of controlling this island less than 20 hectares is negligable when considering what the conflict is costing both nations. When territoritorial dispute becomes an issue of ideology of nationalism and past aggressions, clearly there will be no way to end the dispute without first ending the mentality that leads to these unrational reactions. Look anywhere around the world for evidence of this. Both sides seem unwilling to put this matter to international arbitration or to solve the dispute amongst themselves. Japan has argued to put the case before ICJ and Korea has made inroads to resolve the dispute over the seas around the island. However, when one country makes these concessions, the other side blatantly ignores them. I cannot foreseeably predict a resolution to dispute as long as both sides harbor an inconsolable hatred for one other. I would love to discuss the issue with you further, but to tell you the truth, I do not see the point. |
| 28th November 2008 A Korean | Yeah, we love Obama, too. - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon The expression "hate" should be reserved for KKK, neo Nazis, Japanese right-wing fanatics, and such. Not to the respectable citizens of a fully functioning democracy, please. I guess it is inevitable that your first impressions on things like American beef and hatred against Japanese and Dokdo dispute come from the kids you teach (and a few adults, with seemingly limited command of English), but please do some reasearch when you have time. The issues are very complex, to say the least. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dokdo Some links. |
| 27th November 2008 Ryanmc | protests - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon There were protests going on to continue to block the import of US beef (are you kidding me?!!) because they had stopped after that mad cow scare many years ago. There are protests all over the world against Americans because of the war, but I think those are going away as people are excited about Bush leaving office. I guess there are some Koreans that truly hate Americans, but not all of them. I don't think they hate us as much as the Japanese. I had some students completely unprovoked start to literally curse Japanese people (a girl was trying to put some sort of hex on Japan), saying things like 'I kill Japan'. So not only am I engaged in teaching English here, I am trying to employ so diplomatic tact to teach tolerance as well. Lee, the teacher in Sacheon from England likes to tell Koreans how much he likes Japan just to get a rise out of them. They hate Japan for the bad things they have done in the past, but I guess right now there is some sort of dispute over an island and the seas around it. The Koreans are convinced that the island should be theirs. They didn't like when I told them that, to end the dispute, the island should belong to the U.S., because we defeated Japan in WWII and liberated the whole Korean peninsula, and then again when North Korea invaded the South and even took over nearly the entire country, it was the Americans that saved them. Korea would not even exist if it wasn't for us. Needless to say, they weren't happy to hear this. |
| 27th November 2008 Ryanmc | Agata - From: They call me 'Rain' I know, I was only joking! |
| 26th November 2008 Mom | problems - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon Aaron here at work said he had just seen on the news where South Koreans were waging some kind of protest, hate thing, against Americans! |
| 26th November 2008 geronimo | Agata - From: They call me 'Rain' I didn't mean that she was somehow similar but only that she was my youngest and my favorite student. |
| 26th November 2008 Mom | YIKES!! - From: Bussing it to Busan and Down and Out in Daejeon I probably shouldn't be reading about you getting accosted in some skanky place, not exactly what a mother wants to hear! Thank God you are probably bigger and stronger than any of them! |
| 24th November 2008 Mom | relative - From: They call me 'Rain' So other than the age difference, DO you look like that elem teacher?? LOL |
| 24th November 2008 Ryanmc | I didn't know... - From: They call me 'Rain' that Drew Thomas was the person you sent me his contact info. I never contacted him, so I don't know who he is. I am sorry I made you feel stupid, but I get questions like that all the time from the people here--'My cousin lives in America, do you know her?' one lady asked me. Or they ask me if I know every American that comes to Korea. Some people think I am related to an elementary teacher here in town only because we are both American and 'look the same'. He is like 40 yrs older than me, I take offense to that. |
| 23rd November 2008 Mom | person from Fenton - From: They call me 'Rain' I had sent you his contact info before you even left, remember? I know his dad. I had no idea Busan was a city of 4 million people or that there were so many American ESL teachers there! pardon my ignorance!!! |
| 19th November 2008 Ryanmc | smelly kid - From: They call me 'Rain' Was Agata the smelly kid? If not, I'm not seeing a lot of parallels here Uncle Gerry. |
| 19th November 2008 Ryanmc | Michigan teachers - From: They call me 'Rain' There are hundreds or thousands of American ESL teachers in S. Korea and many in the Busan area. Do you really think I ran into a specific teacher in a city of almost 4 million people? That being said, you probably saw that I have met a teacher from Flint, so I guess it is not out of the question. |
| 18th November 2008 Mom | Michigan teachers - From: They call me 'Rain' Did you meet the other American ESL teachers this past week-end? Have you met Drew Thomas yet? He is from Fenton and is in Busan. |
| 14th November 2008 Mom | "Rain" or "Lion" - From: They call me 'Rain' Interesting Ry! Little did I know when we named you this typically Irish name, that you would end up in a place where people would find that hard to pronounce!! |
| 14th November 2008 geronimo | Don't get bored and give up on me. - From: They call me 'Rain' After class I asked Agata if I could have her home phone number. She looked quizzingly at me and asked me why. I said, "I want to call your mom and tell her about your Green School. She screamed, "No, I won't give it to you!" Me, "Don't worry Agata, I won't do that." We kept in touch for years but just about a year ago she got married and I haven't heard from her since. |
| 14th November 2008 geronimo | Continuing of the Agata story - From: They call me 'Rain' In an exited and giggly tone of voice she said, "It was so fun! We had all new teacher and they let us stay up as long as we wanted. We usually finally went to bed at 4am! I asked her what they did until 4am. Response, "We girls went to the boys dorm and played cards." My response,"What kind of cards?" Agata, "Poker!" Me, "For money?" Agata, "No, for clothing! But we girls never had to take of much because we got together and made up signals. Our boys are so dumb they never figured it out." |
| 14th November 2008 geronimo | more on Agata - From: They call me 'Rain' Later in the semester she told me in Friday's class that she'd be gone for a week. She had to attend "Green School" at a campground on the Baltic. I said, "That sounds like something interesting and fun". Her response was, "No it isn't! Our teachers don't want us to have any fun. The worst part is that they make us go to bed at 10pm." Well, on the Monday of her return I could see that she was anxious to share so I called on her first. |
| 14th November 2008 geronimo | favorite student - From: They call me 'Rain' Your writings about your favortie student brought back memories of mine. She was a Polish girl named Agata. (spelling is correct) She was 14 and and was the youngest student I've ever taught. I was teaching a class in Cracow called Conversational English. This was for students who graduated from the course. There was no textbook and I had to wing it. I used English language newspapers, comics and magazines. Most of my class of about 30 students responded quite well but getting Agata to speak was difficult. Friday's class consisted of me asking them about the upcoming weekend. I could only get a short sentence or two out of her. Monday's class was a recap of what happened to their plans etc. One Monday morning about half way through the semester Agata opend up and started going on and on seemingly without end. When she finally finished I asked her what caused this. She responded that she had a dream of her and I having a conversation and when she woke up she was able to think in English rather than having to translate every word into Polish. That was the best compliment I've ever had regarding my teaching. |
| 14th November 2008 geronimo | dog eat dog - From: They call me 'Rain' I wonder if the term, "I want to eat your dog" might be a compliment. |
| 27th October 2008 Ryanmc | UofM - From: Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Yeah, I only actually watched 1 1/2 games this year. I haven't been able to find a place here yet to catch games, or probably won't be able to because they take place late at night. I have been following online, and it's getting hard just to bring myself to look up the scores. Absolutely dreadful season. It doesn't surprise me that my dad fell asleep. Was his snoring disturbing the other people? Ha. My Korean, uh let's just say it can only get better from here. I am trying to enroll in some courses at a university, but no luck so far. I get by somehow though. Things are going well, and I hope you enjoy reading the blog. This is my attempt to let everyone know what I'm up to, without sending massive amounts of emails, so be sure to check back often and take care. |
| 26th October 2008 Uncle Luis | ANOTHER U OF M LOSS - From: Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Be glad you Korea, you lucky dog, you're Wolverines lost yesterday to the Spartans...yeah, first time in 18 years and the first time in like 30 years at the Big House. Your folks and Aunt Jane, aka Helen, aka Rusty and I drove up north to Gaylord to hear the "Presidents Own Marine Band". Yeah, we went to Gaylord. Did I know it was up in Gaylord, oh hell no!! But it turned out excellent. We stayed right across the driveway from a "Big Buck Bar" or something like that. We found the place about 10 min. before kick off so we didn't miss a minute. The concern was tremendous, but I heard later that your Dad fell asleep right there in the Gaylord gymnasisum or however the hell you spell Gym. So how's your Korean? Are you learning the language more than ordering in a restaurant? I hope all is well, stay in touch with the folks so I can hear how your doing? All my best and if your in the area, stop in Uncle Luis |
| 26th October 2008 Mom | another week - From: Searching for the next Jet Li So, ok Ry, maybe I'm being impatient again but missed an update this week-end. Hope all is well! Love and miss you! |
| 19th October 2008 Mom | hmmn - From: Searching for the next Jet Li Yes, your mom DOES read these blogs! so what are you holding back here son?? ( ; |
| 17th October 2008 geronimo | more on Oktoberfest - From: Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival I forgot to mention the Oom Pah Bands. Later in the evening they were as drunk as everyone else and went out onto the dance floor and cut-in to dance with the better looking ladies and dancing and playing at the same time. The tuba player was the most fun to watch. |
| 17th October 2008 geronimo | crowds - From: Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Reading this brought back my claustophobic time at Oktoberfest in Germany. It was so packed all you could do was push your body into the crowd and advance maybe a quarter step at a time while trying to move toward your destination which usually was one of the many beer tents which hold about 10,000 people each. I had an American friend with me who left his wallet in his back pocket and , of course, had it stolen so I wound up buying his beer until he was able to find a place to call his dad who sent him some bucks by Western Union. Great place if you're not claustrophobic. Once you're in a tent it's crowded but not like the street. The waitresses were fun to watch. The didn't walk but ran with at least four one liter steins in each hand. I guess trays would have been a disaster if they got jostled. Great place to be, wonderful beer and free full body massages from the crowd. |
