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...please BE QUIET!! I have noticed that lately a lot of my friends have been on this Pro-Revolutionary tip. Normally this wouldn't bother me but your playful fads are now no longer tolerable at this point. I would like to use this entry to explain something to you so as to negate your impudence while drawing a line in the metaphorical sand of what separates "me" from "you".

Please don't throw numbers. I enjoy the fact that you can easily place numbers and statistics in the midst of your imprudent and ill-perceptive rants without posting any citation to legitimately back your claims. But what do I care, I am sure that Maxim and Vanity Fair Magazine have the 411 on Social Economic stability and the Inequitable Divide concerning the dwindling Middle Class. Hey I get my Health advise from reading National Geographic so who am I to judge?

Unlike a majority of readers in the world I just don't skim through an article and take out what I want to hear (Selective Perception has never been my thing)I really do read the entirety of your work and sit and focus on the bigger picture. Although, I was greatly dissapointed when someone uttered the following:

...for anyone between the years 17 - 25 the current unemployment rate is up to 47%. While just under 10% of new college graduates will actually get a job remotely related to their degree due to America's current economic crisis... but what is guaranteed is that they will certainly be in debt

Like every other unpolished novice who thinks they have something important to say, you use the EXACT same tactics to deliver your message as those industries whom you vehemently try to fight to not be like. Plus 10% of what? Was it 10% of the 13% of individuals from a previous study? Some of us know how to read graphs and would like that WHOLE picture please, Thanks!

Your originality does not go without merit though. I know it's hard to have people want to listen to your incessant diatribes about this, that, and the third. The biggest problem I have with this is your use of "Shock-value" to get your message across. Trust me, if you have to result to this ubiquitous stage trick than you really don't have anything worth hearing or reading about. And please don't pester me with your persistence. By forcing me to listen to you tell me how WRONG I am is only going to make your job that much harder, as you further alienate yourself from your target audience.


This is always a interesting position because you only give yourself two options at this point. You either be quiet at the lack of responses or you resort to doing more extravagantly dangerous methods to up your shock value, which will probably land you in prison for bombing a bank to make statement about How Unfair the IMF is and the current condition of our countries GDP. Because in the end we all know how much SOCIAL CHANGE you can bring about while in jail.

Being deemed a "Revolutionary" or a "Revolutionary Thinker" is a title that come through exhibiting a unique and charismatic character. This title doesn't belong to you or your acerbic self-righteous buddies who sit around and bitch and write internet posts and debate foreign policy through infantile conjecture at some drab unconventional coffee house. Last time I checked when did YOU own any of the Modes of Control that determines the economic balance between social classes?



If you must make a point that is about collective well being of your fellow man, please share your knowledge. But do not condemn people for NOT knowing and do not get offensive if people are not ready to hear what you have to say. Many people who live in certain societies have been conditioned differently; which with determine how open they will be in either accepting your message or throwing it out altogether. Many of humans greatest achievements and collective strides were brought on by revolutionaries ability and discipline and tenacity to stay their ground and guide us when we needed them in times of strife and uncertainty.

Sorry I had to bear my teeth but it is necessary to show you where I stand on this particular topic. Which for the record is on the opposite side, not adjacent. I have too many things on my mind in terms of reconstruction of true and vivid agency and autonomy not for people but for multiple persons to live in a society with a proper blend of Subjective and Objective social control to have you running around undoing what I have done thus far. So with that I bid our false revolutionary fan club adieu. Please get your feet off my couch and gather your things because your visit to Chez Revolution is overstayed and I have much work to do.

Joe - OUT!!

So last week I had a lot of fun hanging out in Hongdae with some friends after a much needed dentist appointment. Since this was my second time being in Hongdae, the first time being at night, we decided to do some exploring. After lunch and a few rounds of billiards I was up for anything...or at least I thought I was until I met with the 2010 Experimental Arts Festival Korean Style~



Seriously we had walked on to the street for no more than 3 minutes and we literally ran into, what seemed to be, the beginning of a small parade. With sirens blaring and motorcycles revving their engines we had arrived in front of the Korea Experimental Arts Festival Parade route. Check out some of the pictures that I took as I quickly shuffled to get onto the sidewalk:
















Honestly after checking out the pamphlet that one of the girls had gave me I might actually go back and hang out for a bit. There will be some roof top performances, some workshops, an outdoor performance, as well as some other expos.



The duration of the event will be from July 24th 2010 - August 1st 2010 in various places around Hongik University (The Green Line - Stop 239) as indicated on this awesome little map.



So if you do decide to go, or if you have a question, or if you would just like an awesome travel companion/badass to hang out with for a while; feel free to leave me a comment. Oh yeah, here is a link to their website if you would like some more information about the event [Click Here]

Joe - OUT!!

This has been my hardest post to write yet. Namely because I have been writing it in pieces but I finally wanted to compile this little work about Food, Health, and Acclimating to the weather in South Korea.

While I have been living out here I have noticed that I have lost a significant amount of weight since I got off the plane a few months ago. I don't mean like "OMG I lost 5 or 7 pounds because I switched to this awesome yogurt!" No, no I mean I used to weigh 210 lbs before I came to South Korea and now I weigh 175 lbs. For all of you who don't use pounds as a standard measurement I went from 95kg to 79kg. A lot of this is because of the mostly high vegetable standard Korean diet that I have adopted. This coupled with a little exercise, little alcohol consumption, and a severe shortage of Whoppers and French Fries have put me on the fast track to success.

Granted, I feel great now, but I wanted to share with you that really helped push me to lose the weight. The secret was Spicy Food and Hot Peppers! That's right the bane of my existance is actually what helped me to pull off this the modern day magic trick and make the weight just disappear. While picking up one of Michael Pollen's books on food and health (which I highly recommend) I found some helpful information that I would like to talk about.

There is a chemical in spicy food called capsaicin. This chemical allows your metabolism to speed up and help the body burn calories faster. Also portion control on your part is made easy since hot peppers are naturally very spicy you will begin to eat smaller portions. So it's not much of a coincidence that eating spicy food will help to greatly reduce your calorie consumption throughout the day.

Another benefit of is improved digestion. This is because consumption of spicy foods increase what is known as "hydrochloric secretion" which is found in the stomach. This also will increase the blood flow to the stomach and even increase the mucous lining helping to prevent and even cure stomach ulcers. If you have a weak stomach like mine you can always take a antacid tablet before you eat to neutralize any excess rumbly in your tumbly.

And like my childlike friend you will enjoy the sleeping benefits that come from improved sleep patterns and an overall boost in the level of endorphins and serotonin. So you receive both a chemical that dulls pain and give you a feeling of wellbeing? Sign me up! This is cool because they act as depression fighters and powerful stress relievers, and you wonder why I crack so many jokes?

With these helpful antimicrobial properties found in spicy foods people are better able to acclimate to scorching hot temperatures. This is especially important in these hot and humid summer months where the forecast is as follows:



Being that it is currently July its super humid and my head is always in the freezer. So the lesson to be had here is that EATING MORE SPICY FOODS KEEPS YOUR BODY COOLER AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES. Although eating spicy foods seems to like the inverse of how you should address the rising heat outside, but actually this method is proven and very effective. On the other hand you could take the easy route and go grab an ice cream or a frozen yogurt? Wait...damn it! Now I want frozen yogurt. Hopefully I can find a good healthy yogurt place so I can share it with you guys next time. As always THANKS for reading, stay healthy, and I miss you all!

Joe - OUT!!

So if you remember I wrote a piece called the "Happy Gardener" which was about teaching children the value of hard work and the importance of the farmer. This was heavily ironic because this lesson came from the least qualified individual in the entire country at the time. Since this city boy has left the states I have felt that a lot has changed inside of me in a short amount of time. I completely welcome this change and I nurture it with a daily regiment of exercise and the study, however I wanted to sit and reflect on it today.

Since we last saw the fields they were covered in trash bags with small individual holes that I had plotted. Now it is a jungle of untamed weeds and leaves.

Before:


After:


Now as you can see these holes have produced a good yield of vegetables that will help to feed this town as well as the students at the school. There is something that is wholesome and refreshing about this that makes my entire trip out here seem worth it. Namely because the children can see and appreciate their work while they are eating. Something that I had to wait 23 years to learn from being brought up on a diet of processed, hydronated and sugar laced foods in the States. Here are some of the rest of the pictures that I took that day.

Here is some pictures of Clint and our co-teachers Lauren and Florence:



Here is a picture of Andrew and I chilling in the back:



And here is a picture of me with Sunny, Amy and Mandy:



The finished result:




It's been a wild couple of months out here but somehow everything still feels new. Every time I venture from the safety of the school, which is all the time, I always returned more enlightened than the last. Although I, admittedly, retain some core aspects of my prior personality that refuse to change with the rest. I still take on more than handle. I still analyze every situation to its smallest element. And I still laugh at my own jokes (I'm sure that even if they fully understood English they still wouldn't laugh). Be that as it may I see one aspect of myself that is growing with unbridled determination. That is my anxiousness to go home. Not because I miss that states (I am sure that I will one day) but because I want to bring back my new level of understanding and apply it. Until then I will continue to cherish these days and let my determination guide me through the unknown.

This is a follow up to a previous posting I made when I tragically chipped my tooth and began my search for a dentist in South Korea. You can [Click Here] to check out the previous blog "Any Good Dentist's in South Korea?" This blog is split into two sections. The Story for all of you who would like to read about my Epic Fail at applying common sense and The Instructions for those of you who would like to just skip the foreplay and get down to business.

-----------------------THE STORY-----------------------------------------------------
After doing some research I am happy to tell you that I actually found a good, accommodating and English speaking dental facility in South Korea. It was honestly too good to be true. Their website has a section in English which allows you to call or write an email in order to schedule an appointment at one of their offices. This was a definite plus since I, like most other haqwon teachers, work nights and don't have time to call before their offices close.

After I had made the appointment online I was promptly called the next morning. They confirmed what I had stated in the email, confirmed my appointment and they asked if I had Korean Insurance (which you should have after working a month in South Korea). Having squared that away I was to meet them at 3:30pm on Saturday in Eungam. Here comes the funny - Now even though I was sent an confirmation email, I set an alarm on my iTouch, and I was given 3 text messages prior to my appointment that reminded me what time to be there I was STILL LATE! I don't know if it's just me but in the states if you asked me "Hey Joe, how long would it take you to get here?" I would shrug my shoulders and say I don't know maybe 15 to 20 minutes. Now you would think living in a completely different country would break me from that, OH NO! I stay with the stupid antics. I left my house a whole hour and a half to get there KNOWING that it would have taken me 2 and a half hours to get there from where I was. But I insisted that a game of pool was more important. I know, I know I should be kicked in the shins.

But they were really cool about it! When I came into their office an hour late they just asked me to fill out a single standard medical form asking me "What are you allergic to" and the like. After they processed the form I was called into the back. Although I couldn't take pictures of the inside, the facility was really clean and there were a lot of staff around to help you with anything you needed. Here was the WOW factor for me through all of this. I had gotten an X-ray taken, a tooth extracted, and a prescription for these bomb ass pain killers all cost me 19700 won ($16.32 USD). In your face America!

Although those procedures are covered by the Korean insurance, what isn't covered was my need to have my cavities taken care of and to have an implant done. (Yep my victory dance has officially stopped) I don't know how much it is going to be just yet, but word is that it isn't going to be cheap. All in all I was glad that I found a place to take care of my dental woes while I'm traveling.

----------------------------THE INSTRUCTIONS-----------------------------------------

For those of your who didn't need the whole story, here is how you get there. To get to the office in Eungam you will want to take Line 6 on the metro. It is stop number 610. When you come up to the street you want to take an immediate right. You will see a monument in a small park. Just walk past it and keep going up the street.



The A+ Dental Office is located on the 8th floor of E-Mart. So you want to keep going up the street until you see a huge E-Mart (which should be on the right hand side of the street).



Now if you don't what to ride an escalator for 8 floors you will have to go around E-Mart until you see this doorway. This will take you to the elevators. If wouldn't tell you this if I didn't value your time ;)




When you hit the 8th floor go up and to your right and you will see the entrance of the A+ Dental Office.

They actually have three offices in South Korea. You can find out the other locations, make an appointment and find any other information by [Clicking Here] to link directly to their site.

When you travel abroad there are so many things that you might want to do and see. So by all means get out there and make it happen. However there are also some things that I'm sure everyone on the planet would cringe if any of the following were to happen while traveling in a foreign land. These things are:

1) Losing their Passport or Wallet
2) Requiring immediate medical attention
3) Having an unforeseen dental emergency

Although this list is rather exclusive I should have known that my ability to follow my own 3 Step Program was a little too complicated even for me. About a week ago I did the unspeakable; I somehow managed to chip my top first molar. And you won't believe what I broke it on. You ready for this? It was a freakin' cough drop! Sorry guys, I wish I had something more macho to tell you but I am still amazed myself.

When it first happened I felt a pain but the second thing I felt was fear. Who do I talk to about this? How much is this going to cost? Where do I go to get this remedied? Growing up the majority of my adult life poor and without medical and dental insurance I tried to instinctively shrug it off and continue to go about my day. This, however, is hard to do when your tooth is suddenly as sharp as a Ginsu Cutting Knife. Now this tooth serves no other purpose than to cut me every time I rest my tongue. After swallowing my pride and confronting my fears found a Dental Clinic with doctors and secretaries that speak fluent English.

I will post a follow-up blog after I find the place and go through the procedure. My fingers are crossed that it will quick, painless, and cheap. Otherwise I will live the rest of my days as a wise crackin' toothless pauper.


In retrospect I think that odd occurrence of my tooth is suspect. Although I am eating the healthiest I have ever had in my entire life I would not think that a lone cough drop would have the potential crack my tooth. Especially after all the havoc that eating all the countless processed and sugar laced foods in America did on my teeth, they seemed to be losing their durability. Maybe there was something to to the 1962 order in the US to place fluoride in all drinking water [click here]. This will definitely keep my up for a while trying to figure it out.

This weekend a good friend and I took a little detour away from both of our towns and ended up somewhere a little unexpected. For the record, I need to hire someone to slap my face when I reach to put on jeans. It's summer time out here and the humidity does NOT play. But it never fails though, I wake up in the morning and I look outside to see that it's cloudy. I my 3 second assessment of the sky convinces my inner weather-person that ,"Yes Joey, you need to wear shorts or you will be cold or you will look all the more foolish."

Instead it always seems to either clear up or stay cloudy throughout the majority of the day. Thus making my weekend excursions on foot a miserable montage of stringing together as many curse words as I can think in order to spite the heat. Fortunately my frustration brought me to check out the Cheonggyecheon River located in Seoul. This was a beautiful walk encompassed everything from small street performances to historical vignettes in stone which were all experienced to the serene sound of the river water.

Here we have the entrance of this attraction. As well as several shots of the immediate surrounding environment:







This walk is pretty long but chances are that you wont complain too much. There were many students and couples walking up and down the river. And if you are tired just do as the locals and take your shoes off and play in the water. It's a very relaxing and a nice get away from a tense work week.



I would recommend visiting this place at night when all the lights come out. In each of these stones there is an individual light that turns on. Plus there are many shops around the area so if you ever need to grab a refreshment or use the restroom you will not have to travel far. I actually ate fresh seafood and drank makkolli (Korean Rice Wine) in a traditional fish market next to the river, which only cost me 7,000 won ($5.72 USD).



All in all I would recommend making the trip if you find the time. I will definately go again at night and better prepared (by wearing shorts!). The exact address is:
31, Taepyeongno 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

I got there by traveling to Gwanghwamun(Stop 533) on Line 5 and taking exit 6 to the street. If you guys do decide to go or have already have gone, leave me a comment. Since I'm going again I would like to hear of other fun things to do in that area.

Joe - OUT!!

Someone please just shoot me! What asshole let me get this sick? I've been here in South Korea for a little while now and I'm tired of being sick. As the record stands I have been sick 5 times in last 4 months. These antigens out here in SK are straight up disrespecting my immune system.

"So what?" you might be asking in the midst of my rant. Let me assure you that I am the captain of this damn flight and we are going to get there when we get there; now sit your ass down! Anyways this aggression is meant for my recruiters that gave me the wrong impression about what I should bring overseas with me. When I asked them if I should bring medicine they told me that they had many Korean brands and other traditional medicines but there were no American brands of medicines out here.

So I did what I do best. I listened and did the exact opposite. Seriously the only thing I didn't stock up on was medicine. I brought a small supply of throat lozenge's, a bottle of cough syrup, and half empty bag of cough drops. Now I realize that my half-assed attempt of trying to pack a suitcase shifts the blame to me. But after the second time I got sick I had depleted my entire supply of medicine. Afterwards every time that I had gotten sick since I laid in bed and suffered in macabre hopelessness because I was under the impression there was no familiar medicine that would be available to me. My bouts of sickness have gotten so bad that at one point I had lost my voice for an entire week.

Now fast forward to today. I had to go to a local grocery store to pick up a new sponge in order to replace the one that I left soaking in the sink over the weekend (yeah my level of "jack-ass" is permanently stuck on High). After I bought my items I proceeded to walk past a drug store in order to head to the bus stop and make my way home. Then from my peripheral vision I saw what seemed to be a very familiar packaging.



I honestly kind of half-walked half-ran over the counter and used my Korean to ask him "Ego moe ya yo?" -What is this? He flipped the package around and said, "Tea."



After seeing this I couldn't keep my hand from shooting for my wallet. He seriously could have said that this was the last box on the island and I would have paid him 70 bucks for this magical elixir. Thank goodness this was only 6,000 won (4.90 USD).
And here I was counting my lucky stars and praying that I would somehow stumble across a suitcase full of Tylenol and NyQuil when I could have just walked right on in and enjoyed BREATHING like a normal person. Grrr!!

Joe - OUT!!