The Johnson's Take on Korea Part 1

My family is here!!!!

So far we have had only one small disaster. I thought I booked them in a Hotel just down the street from me, but really they are across town. It's turned out OK because it's an area we want to hang out in anyway, but it is making for some early mornings for me the bros (who are staying in a co-workers apt.) to get over the to rents.

Highlights so far:
Saw the Nutcracker on Christmas Day
Randomly selected a Korean restaurant that had the whole family sitting on the floor for their first meal here. Thank god the young waiter spoke English.
Eat at California Pizza Kitchen for dinner
Went to the DMZ
Wondered around a palace in the middle of the city
Dinner "party" in my apartment

Of course hundreds of pictures are being taken. Here is one:I call it "The Johnson Family for a United Korea"

Merry Christmas!!!

Some of you have seen this already, but for those who haven't:

I now eagerly await my first phone "date" with Madge, the arrival of my family!!! and Santa Claus of course.

Enjoy your holiday!!!!

The Obligatory Work "Holiday" Party

Well, it wasn't an official "holiday" company party, but similar embarrassing shenanigans happened. The biggest difference in Korea is that the shenanigans are highly encouraged, required actually, and preplanned.

We went to a dinner party Saturday night which was for all the schools owned by our principle and her husband. Only two of approximately ten tables were filled with "whiteies", so we were already a spectacle of course. We were told when we were invited that we would be expected to represent our school by singing a song in front of everyone. The general drill is have one person sing a song and have the co-workers snapping in the background. I was the lucky elected representative for our particular group, but was assured that it wasn't a big deal. I was not so reassured, however, when my boss called me Saturday afternoon to check on what I would be singing.... I went with "Material Girl" as it's simple and a classic. It won me / us a lamp and a blender...not bad! One of our Korean staff members got second place which is $200. Because we all stood up behind her, we got half the money. Some might say that a big part of her winning was the fact that one of my fellow teachers and I went to dance right in front of the judges table (after being pushed in that direction by our boss). Who would have guess right? ;)

Most groups looked like us up there, but some were in costume and had choreography. I felt like I was at a camp talent show. Amazing.

Drama, drama, drama

So the Gingerbread Man show went off if minimal hitches. The kids were cute even when I needed to whisper their cues to them from off stage and the parents seemed content. The real highlight of this whole endeavor were the costume catalogs. Sadly, a picture of a picture is not that great, but these are still worth taking a look at:

Keep in mind that in every picture the kid on the left is a boy.




Gay Cowboy?



Soldier and Mermaid...makes sense to me.






OK, I find this one just plain creepy.


And everyone's favorite character, the cellphone. Complete with flap down front and send button on the butt.



Pictures of my kids from the show and more of the catalog are also posted now.

Saftey in the Subway

Sorry...I've been lacking in my posts again. Here is something to think about:

How would you feel seeing this in every subway station?
(I highly encourage clicking on the picture to see an enlarged version. It's worth the close up on this one.)

I like to think that Koreans are just like boy scouts....always prepared for anything. Of course, in any given subway station there are usually at least 200 people walking around and only one of these little displays. If anything were to happen it would be like being on the Titanic. Women and children first I hope....

It's probably more likely to be trampled to death in the event of an emergency then be harmed by the emergency itself. I'm actually worried about being trampled on a semi daily basis around here.