Because men have needs, too

Our newsroom secretary told me Friday that I needed to get a credit union account -- today. I wandered downstairs and found the place (after talking to two people who had no idea what I was talking about). However, I already have direct deposit for my paycheck at work at a bank. So, why would I need a separate and second account for money from work? For a secret slush fund, it turns out. In Korea, women generally do the books. So, at our paper, at least, the men are given this "credit union" account for all extra money: bonuses, overtime, holiday pay, whatever. And their wives don't have a clue.

Hong Kong
Well, I may SEEM computer literate, but I'm not! I loaded all our photos from the trip, then realized that they are all in reverse order. So, in true blog fashion, we're starting with the end of our trip.
Yes, it's INCREDIBLY juvenile of me to post a photo of "Tong Fuk" village, but as a journalist, I'm just reporting what I see. I was unable to get a photo of, and this an exact quote, the "Fat Ho Elementary School." Our bus just drove by it too fast, and my camera didn't snap quick enough. But it really exists, in the serene fishing village of Tai O, on an island that is a 30-minute ferry trip (and 1 hour bus ride).
Here's the ferry port. The high-speed ferry cruises at what seems like 45 miles per hour. In 30 minutes, you go from crazy congestion (see picture below) to complete tranquility and remoteness. Amazing.
This was a "ladies market" at about 10 p.m. in Hong Kong's Kowloon section.
Oy ... completely out of order, but this is Patty buying some dried squid at the Tai O fishing village.
Another view of Tai O.

These are bubbles, so you know what these women are REALLY thinking about.
Oh, now we're back to the Tai O village.
This is a view of Hong Kong's skyline, taken Saturday night, at the peak of the mountain overlooking the city. You can take a famous (at least for tourists) tram to get there. It's basically a train on tracks that go practically straight up. You look out the window and everything is 45 degrees.
Hong Kong is a former British Colony, just like our home country. So we celebrated with some afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel, luv ... Cheers.
A view of Hong Kong's skyline from Kowloon. They say it's the most famous skyline in the world, but as a former New Yorker, I'm skeptical.
I just thought the money was pretty ....
A boat in Hong Kong harbor. No idea why this old sailboat is sitting in the middle of this modern harbor.
Here's Patty. She's excited because she's about to enter an ART MUSEUM.
We are looking incredibly relaxed. Why ... why ... why? Oh yeah, notice there's NOT a 2-year-old crazy kid in this picture? He stayed with Patty's relatives in Seoul. I doubt they'll let that happen again.
Here's me at the Korean consulate, wondering if they will approve my visa application. We already sold our house, so it would be REALLY annoying if they didn't let me back in Korea. I'll ease the suspense. They gave me the visa, no problem!
Patty riding a tram. This one on the street, and perfectly level.
Hong Kong is known for its dim sum. This place is in the City Hall building, and was quite good.
Just a shot of a taxi driver, thinking there's got to be a better way to make an living than driving these crazy Americans around.

And below ... Patty at the dim sum place again.

Teaching English

This is only Patty's second entry to the blog- since I'm not the writer in the family I've been lax about contributing, but I had to tell you about my new gig teaching English. I started the job about three weeks ago. I teach 3 days a week. one class in the morning and one in the evening. I had about 2 hours of notice to take on this 2 month job when the "Western" teacher they requested bailed. Alot of clients do not want Korean nationals as teachers-they think their English isn't as good, or it may be that they feel self-conscious speaking English to another Korean. Who knows, but they were desperate so I got the job. I"m teaching a group of adults who work at the Civil Service Commission, which I think is the admistrative office to the President and other high-ranking government officials.

All that the "Hagwon" (English school) owner told me the first day was to take attendance, have the student pick out English names provided on a list they provided, and give an oral 'level exam' to assess their English competency level. I passed aorund the name list and had them write their new names on the roster. When it was returned to me I had the strangest list of names! The women's names were simple enough: Ann, Sue, Jackie, but the men's names!! I had from my 2 classes 2 "Spinoza"s, a "Robinson", a "Smith" and then a few of the guys went off the list and named themselves "Kitty Hawk" and "King Kong".

When I returned home that evening I looked at the English name list and realized that the men's name list was full of, how shall I say, unconventional names. Here is a sampling: The list was written in Korean, so I'm translating as best as I can!

Shagal (?)
Casper
Moses
Dio
Santa
Neitsze
Livingston
Don Quixote
Smith
Spinoza
Jefferson
Kennedy
Lincoln
James Bond
Sanderson
Jewtime (?)
Dragon

When I mentioned the weird names to the Hagwon owner later, he said he made up that list!

WE ARE IN HONG KONG!

Yes, I'm typing on the bed of our hotel in the 15th floor. Brian and Patty came this morning, because Brian had to leave the country to get his visa for Korea. Yes, an unfortunate quirk in Korean law ... you must LEAVE the country to get permission to STAY in the country. What that means for us is a free day off for me and a free plane ticket anywhere (in reason) out of the country. We even got Patty's family to help out and watch Jack ... so it's like a second honeymoon.

More pix/updates to come soon.

Parent's Day
Well, I guess that gives a father an excuse to do about anything, right? I've been tempted many times to just start singing out loud to my iPod. Last night, I officially lost my mind. After stopping in a 7-11 type story to buy an ice cream bar for Patty, I walked outside and started singing "September morn," by Neil Diamond. All of the Koreans tried not to look at the crazy Westerner -- especially when I walked by a busy bus stop. Clearly, I've officially lost my mind. :)

Happy Buddha's Birthday

Today, Friday, is a big day in Korea. Buddha's birthday overlaps with another huge holiday, Children's Day. So everyone (check that, most everyone ... not this intrepid journalist) gets a 3-day weekend. However, life is good in the Breuhaus household this morning, thanks to a 360,000 won Costco run (thats about 370 bucks), we have a refrigerator stocked with American food. This morning, we ate bagels, omelets and ... mmmm .... bacon. Top that off with NPR on our laptop (the magic of the Internet) and my Sports Illustrated that arrived yesterday. Life is good.