2006 Year-end Review

For everyone who would like a glimpse into what's been going on in our world in 2006, check out our 2006 year-end review:

www.walterforeman.com/2006

Some of the highlights include, James Brown's first (and now only) performance in Korea, the Rolling Stones live in Tokyo, Canada, the US, big screen TVs, PhDs, and more.

If you missed the 2005 edition of the year-end review, it can be viewed here:

www.walterforeman.com/2005

Happy holidays

The Doctor is In...

Last week I received what is probably the nicest compliment ever given to me.

While having dinner and drinks with a couple of students, one fellow -- who I admire and respect both as a student and a teacher -- referred to my teaching as surgical. Not everyone I know would take that as a compliment, but to me, it was the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my teaching.

So if I teach like a doctor, I figured that I may as well be a doctor. This week I applied for a PhD program in English Education at Korea National University of Education.

Stay tuned for how it turns out...

Why Korea is cool...

There are many reasons why I think that Korea is cool and why I love living here. Here is one example...

Korea Ranks 2nd in Credit Card Use

When I first came to Korea in 1998, you could count on one hand that number of places that took credit cards. And now, just 8 years later, Korea ranks second in the world in credit card use (I'm actually surprised that it took that long!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Korea is cool b/c they credit cards use is rampant; I am saying that Korea is cool b/c it can go from zero to world leader in the blink of an eye.

Korea Ranks 2nd in Credit Card Use

Free at last, free at last...

Well, maybe the comparison to emancipation in the US is a bit extreme, but nevertheless I was happy to receive the following news from the Canada Revenue Agency. My own personal emancipation if you will:

In our opinion, you have not maintained significant residential ties with
Canada. Therefore, we consider you to be a non-resident of Canada as of
March 22, 1998.

What that means in everyday language is that while I am still a citizen of Canada, I am officially and legally no longer considered a resident. Not being a resident of Canada means that I do not have to pay any taxes in Canada. Should I become a resident of Canada again in the future, I would then have to pay taxes, but not on the income I earned from March 22, 1998 when I left Canada!

Interestingly, many people in Canada think that because I married a Korean, that I too am Korean. This is simply not true. To become a citizen of Korea I would have to apply for citizenship and take an extensive citizenship test (including an interview).

Similarly, many people in Korea think that because my wife married a non-Korean, that she is therefore no longer Korean. This also is simply not true. For my wife to become Canadian, she would have to first live in Canada, and second take an extensive citizenship test (including an interview).

Next year I'll be applying for permanent residency status in Korea. This is still different than being a citizen, but is the next best thing. I can come and go as I please without having to worry about visas, re-entry permits, or employer sponsorship. Clear as mud?

For any Canadians living overseas who are interesting in claiming non-residency for tax purposes, check out Canada Revenue Agency's information here:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it221r3-consolid/it221r3-consolid-e.html

Thank god almighty, free at last.

Very Good News!

Clapton is scheduled to play in Seoul on January 23, 2007!

Very, very, good news!

See ya there.

Thanks August!

The other day I did some computer work for a friend of mine at KNUE. As payment, he gave me this lovely box of chocolates.

They are handmade at a place in Cheongju by a fellow who has a chocolatiers license from Switzerland. Check out the website at: http://www.bonjung.com (Korean)

First Kobe now Jay-Z... The World is Coming to Korea

Jay-Z, widely known as the godfather of hip-hop music, will hold his first live concert in Seoul on Oct. 20.

The American rapper whose real name is Shawn Carter is expected to mesmerize hip hop fans with his lyrics and upbeat rhythms.

The concert, to be held in the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in Olympic Park in southern Seoul, will also feature world-renowed rappers Memphis Bleek and Green Latern.

Jay-Z’s Seoul concert is part of his world tour, which started in Europe this month. The concert will continue in Africa and Asia, including Korea and Thailand, and Oceania.

Jay-Z has been a number one rapper since his debut in 1996 with his first album ``Reasonable Doubt.’’

Known for his freestyle abilities and blending of street and popular hip hop, he is also one of the founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, a hip-hop record company, which also launched the careers of renowned artists Rihanna and Bobby Valentino.

Recently, he has featured Beyonce’s new songs, ``Deja Vu,’’ and ``Upgrade U’’ in his new release.

He received huge acclaim with his album,``The Blueprint’’ (2001) which was written in only two days.

As of this year, he has released eight albums and won four Grammies, demonstrating both artistry and popularity.

Tickets cost from 50,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr 09-13-2006 16:51

For B-Ball Fans in Korea

NBA star Kobe Bryant will host a "talk show" in Seoul on Friday together with Korean-American heartthrob Daniel Henney.

The 28-year-old LA Lakers guard, who is touring Asia, will arrive in Seoul on Friday morning for a two-day visit. He will host the 15-minute event in Myong-dong, central Seoul, from 8 p.m., where he is expected to talk about his life and career.

Bryant will also speak with a group of Korean fans at a basketball clinic called "10 lessons for a guard," scheduled for 5 p.m. at Chamsil Stadium in southern Seoul.

Bryant last visited Korea in August 1999. He is already NBA great, having become the second person in league history to score at least 80 points in one game. On Jan. 22 he dropped in 81 points in a victory over the Toronto Raptors, making him second only to Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 in 1962.

Henney, a model and actor, was a successful basketball player when he attended high school in the United States.

joseph@koreatimes.co.kr
09-05-2006 17:26

Before and After

Here's a shot of me on the scale as I leave for my holiday in Canada. In case you can't make it out from the pic, it says 80kgs (176lbs)

The last time I was in Canada, I was there for 6 weeks and put on 6kgs. Now I'm no math wiz but that's close to 1kg per week.

This time I am only going for 3 weeks, so with any luck I will come back weighing 83kgs.

And the souvenirs just keep coming...

Latest additions to the souvenir pile... 5 packs of Korean smokes. These smokes are made by a company called KT&G. It used the be a government-run corporation. Back then it was Korean Tobbaco and Ginseng. It has since been privatized and is now known as, Korea. Tomorrow and Global.

The cost of cigarettes has gone up from less than one dollar (800 won) when i first got here in 1998, to about three dollars (2,500 won) in 2006.

Smoke it up smokers!

More souvenirs...

If you take a close look at the last two posts, you'll notice that the picture, while looking almost the same, is slightly different.

Today's pic has two more types of Korean alcohol: so-ju and mae-sil-ju

Soju is far and away the most consumed alcohol in Korea. It is cheap, packs a good punch, and is available anywhere and anytime. It comes in everything from these handy little plastic bottles and tetra-paks that you see here, to 4L bottles!

The bottles in this pic cost 800 won (about 90 cents Canadian) and will get you nice and tippsy. Two or three and you'll be well on your way.

The soju is about 20% alcohol and the maesilju is about 14%

Holiday Blogging has begun...

Just 2 more days 'til I'm leaving on a jet plane.

I'm hoping to blog everyday while on vacation but I am sure that it won't happen so I am starting a couple of days early...

Here are a few of the souvenirs I'm taking back to Canada with me.

I'm bringing back a sample of each type of Korean beer. And yes, I know that Bud is not a Korean beer.

If I'm missing any that are currently available, please let me know.

Pez Theater: Racism Is No Good

Some people like PEZ maybe a little too much

Interesting little tidbit...

Did you know that on Wednesday of this week (April 5, 2006) at two minutes and three seconds past 1:00AM the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06? Cool eh?

Apparently this won't happen again for another thousand years or so...

Cheers!

Digital TV

Today marks my official entry into the digital TV era. I've had a digital TV for about a month now, but today was the first time that I used its built in 250 gigabyte hard drive to record something. Yes, my TV has a 250 gig hard drive; more than 3 times bigger than the hard drive in my computer.

I recorded MBC-ESPN's rebroadcast of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. I haven't been home to see what it looks like yet (that is assuming that it worked), but it was a breeze to program, so I'm sure everything will have worked fine!

Canada / US Relations

Here's an interesting story as reported by the CBC...

It appears that US White House press secretary Scott McClellan does not know who is the current prime minister of Canada.

I don't know the current prime minister's name either but it's not my job to know these things, while clearly is should be McClellan's.

See the full article here

Dead on arrival

Korea's WBC dream is DOA.

You know something's wrong when a 6-1 team (Korea) doesn't make it to the final and a 3-3 team (Japan) does.

Personally, I blame the man on the left... Kim Byeong Hyeon (김병현). I can't understand why this guy is still playing baseball! His 2005 record in the American majors was 5-12 with a 4.86 ERA (source).

He has the second highest ERA of any of the Korea pitchers at 5.79 (source) and yet he was allowed to pitch at such an important point of such an important game?! I don't get it! Sure he gets a lot of strike outs, but he also gives up A LOT of big hit (and homeruns at that). What baseball fan can forget the 2001 World Series when Kim handed that Yankees a win in much the same way he handed it to Japan yesterday.

For me, Kim's only saving grace was that he came back to bean the next batter after giving up the game-winning homerun to Fukudome. That was truly a baseball classic.

Best Driving in Korea

Not sure I agree with all of these choices, but here, according to one Korean blogger, are some of the best driving routes in Korea.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

For those of you living in the Cheong-ju area (KNUE IETTP Trainees this means you), here's a course closer to home.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

The picture to the right is of the road from KNUE to Cheong-ju.

Do you have a favorite driving course? Let me know about it in the comments section...

Soul comes to Seoul

I feel good! Great actually.

The Godfather of Soul is coming to Seoul and we're going to see him. And you better believe it that I'm going to wear THE SHIRT!!!!!!!

James Brown was in Sydney last year, but we were reluctant to see him because of his age and because we thought that he might be touring just to make a few quick bucks. After all was said and not done, we didn't go. Big mistake.

A friend of ours, who is also a musician, saw JB in Sydney and said that it was better than good, it was great! More than 2 hours of sustained funk and soul. Last year James Brown was 70. This year, when he plays in Seoul, he'll be 71. No doubt about it, he ain't gettin' any younger.

The February 24 concert marks the first time Brown has played in Korea. What could be better than Soul Brother Number One himself playing in a city named, at least phonetically, for him? Nothin' if you ask me!

[personal aside: can you tell from the writing style that I have spent the last 3+ hours editing film reviews for the Korean Film Council?]