Made it!

We're here, write more later.

-Al

So Long Seoul

Hello Readers!

Well, here we go again. All of my worldly possessions are back into boxes and bags, though now on two continents. We leave in about 15 hours for Bangkok. A flight leaving Seoul will drop us in Beijing for 6 hours before another flight gets us to Bangkok, estimated arrival around midnight. We'll be lucky to see our beds by 2am.

Dear Lord, are we excited.

So how are we doing at the end of our tour here in Korea? Well, let's see..

• We didn't make it the full year, something that irks us both. But the stories coming from PLUS in the 5 days since we left are enough to confirm that, if anything, we stayed too long.
• The biggest noticeable difference is the weight loss. I arrived in Korea weighing in around 245 lbs. I leave weighing right about 215 lbs. It'll prolly be coming in around 200 lbs. by the time I get stateside again.
• Less fantastic is the sudden paleness I've noticed. All this time in a big city, with winter, is just making me more and more pale. I hate it. Plus, all this time wearing jeans actually wore the hair off parts of my legs. I'm looking forward to flip flops and cargos again.
• Speaking of which, this winter thing sucks. When I blogged earlier about it I talked about the snowball fights and the snowmen, and left out the hell that is winter. The black slush that just covers the whole damn city is disgusting and maddening. I'm tired of having a stuffy nose, and it taking fifteen minutes to get dressed to go outside. You want a white Christmas? Great. Go north, take pictures. Don't mess up my home with your prayers for snow...
• Did I mention I'm tired of the cold?
• This part feels like a game show: if Jen and I pack up now and come home (not gonna happen), played it safe and waited on the exchange rate we'd have 17k in our pockets. Nuts, huh? If we travel and spend some we'll have less, obviously, but there is a chance we can make even more than we thought. So do we take the money, or see what's behind door number 2? (The answer is Door #2... hopefully you've already figured that out)

I promised pictures.



This is the staff of Rocky Mountain Tavern, where I spent entirely too much time. These guys were amazing. They are, from left, Julie in the white, Thor is the guy above her, Sarena is the one whose face is poking between Jen and I. She quit a few months back, as did the girl in black on the other side of me (I don't remember...) Hi-yah is above and behind Jen, Joy is in the green, Ronin is the one looking confused. That last duo has Jackie Chan with Don Juan on his shoulders. Hopefully a few of them will make the jump across the pond- they were a trip.



Here's a picture of Al's Korean Wives- Angel, Rachel, Whatsherface, and Jennifer. Don't get worried, they're only Korean wives. They don't count in the USA. Except Whatsherface, apparently. She thinks she's coming to Bangkok with me.


This is Drew. He wore Guiness pajama pants with a belt to brunch on Sunday morning. Now, you could point out that we have brunch at a bar, but that's not the point. The point is he wore a belt with pajama pants. And that is AWESOME. Drew and I have been tearing apart Seoul alongside the gents in the next picture. I think you'll get a chance to meet them...


This is Harrison, aka Tank, Mike, and some goofy lookin old guy. I don't have time to get into why he's called Tank. Just trust me, he deserves it. But I *do* have time to tell you he's Jewish, and I got his bacon at breakfast. Friend Status: Confirmed.


Here's some random pretty girls to make all of you single guys feel dumb for not coming to Korea with us. See how sad they are?!?!


:::LONG PAUSE:::

Ok, now it's around 6am. We still haven't slept, but I gotta get this out before I go. We're off like a rocket, folks. Say a prayer.

But we are, for better or worse, bringing the laptop. Wifi is plentiful in Southeast Asia, and the streets are made of cheese. So sayth Fivel.

We'll try to post when we land, if only a line or two. We love you!!!!!

-Al & Jen

Cambodian Orphans

Hey everyone!

I'm posting one more picture filled post before heading to parts unknown, but this one isn't going to be it. This one is actually about where we're heading later.

You may have heard Jen and I mention that we were looking at possibly volunteering at an orphanage in Cambodia. Our friend Melissa, one of the most amazing people I've ever met, by the way, has been globe trotting for several months now. She told us about it before we she left, and when I asked her about it yesterday she directed me to her blog.

A few notes before you follow the jump-
1. It's sad. Really, really, this sounds fake sad.
2. Melissa is a better writer than I am. No fair jumping blogs.
3. I had a stronger desire to rally some support for these guys the second I read what Melissa had to say. I am, however, a cynic. I'll wait and see for myself, but if Mel's right (she normally is) Jen and I will be looking for organizations back home to help support them.
4. Yes, we'll be careful.
5. Yes, we'll be careful.
6. Yes, we'll be careful.
7. Yes, we'll be careful.
8. Mom, I get it. Yes, we'll be careful. Promise.

Ok, now that you've read my intro, go here. But not if you have a date or something where you have to be happy. Then wait and do it later.

-Al

Finally. A Proper Blog.

Hey everyone.

Sorry the last few have been so scattered, I'm back and focused. At least until Naruto finishes downloading.

We're going to miss Korea. Lately there have been some really great folks we've gotten to spend some time with, and it sucks that we don't have more time with them. But, at the same time, we are SOOO ready to blow this pop stand.

Let's talk Obama, shall we? Is he getting any press back home? (That was a joke...)

Good Lord, it's a tad unnerving out here. The thing that I can't get past is how excited folks from outside the U.S. are, especially Canadians. One girl posted on her Facebook that she "just cried all night," she was so happy. Our friends from South Africa, Europe, and elsewhere are just so freakin' excited. The Americans are happy, for certain, but not like the foreigners are. I haven't decided if that's entirely a good thing. I kinda prefer that other countries were a little more wary of whoever is running the show... just a little.

That said, I'm sure I've got better things to report. Ah! Yes! Jen's birthday.

For her birthday Jen went to America. And by that, I mean the Army base here in Seoul. It is the only place in Korea where you can find a Taco Bell, which was a pretty big deal. She and a few of her friends went on base (they were dating a few of the soldiers) (and by they, I mean Jen's friends, not Jen.) (I mean, they're my friends too, but they're girls, and they spend more time with Jen than they do with me, so ya know...) (Jen wouldn't date one of the soldiers anyway. I know. Because she told me. It's not like I told her to string along a GI so we could get Taco Bell and access to the grocery store or anything. And it's not like she got really mad and told me to do it myself, and then I tried, but the guy didn't like me, and I felt ugly, and then came home and found Jen was even more angry because she wasn't serious, which wasn't fair, but now the GI's gay friend Phil won't stop calling me, which sucks cause he's not even a GI.) (Nothing like that.)

Anyway, they hung out on base and enjoyed the comforts it provides. Little known fact: Korea is considered, by the US military, to be a hardship tour, which means families are kinda discouraged and you get paid more to be here. Pretty strange, considering the fact that the soldiers have it a heck of a lot better than we do, aside from the curfew thing. I mean, heck, they get to stay out later than I do.

...I mean, I don't have a curfew. I do what I want.


Hey, wanna see where we're staying in Bangkok?

Click here.

AH!! See how I put the hyperlink on the wrong word!?!?!? I am SOOO hilarious.

Ok, enough of that hilarity. This place is much nicer than what we'll be staying in normally. We went for something a little nicer for our first time out. We should only be in Bangkok for a few days. We'll do some wandering and hopefully meet up with a friend from here before heading south down the peninsula and into Indonesia. Her name's Jesse.


That's Jesse on the bottom left. Rachel is the name of the girl above her, and the devilishly handsome guy is Brendon. I'm the leftover.

Jesse is from South Africa. She's a sweetheart, and she's been wandering around China and Southeast Asia for a month or so now. She'll be in Bangkok the same time, and has been eying Australia herself, which works out. Brendon is from Australia, though he's currently in Canada, and is in a caliber of Nick and Dave on Al's Mancrush-O-Meter. He cares for me too.

But I digress. Rachel is from Michigan, which explains her leaving. She's been hanging around a lot lately. She's a trip...

By the way, this wasn't Halloween. We just do this sometimes.

Ok, Naruto finished. I miss Dattebayo. And no, that shouldn't mean a thing to you.

-Al

Name Game!!

So one of the highlights from this little slice of insanity is giving little Korean children cruel English names.

They have Korean names, of course, but since we don't speak Korean we give them an English name too. And it is fun.

Here's some of the favorites that I can't take credit for:

Mario
Luigi
Smith
Wesson
Golden Human
Golden Monkey
Golden Elephant
Bubbles (Big Korean kid. HILARIOUS.)

There are a ton more. But I'd like to share the ones I *CAN* take credit for. Because I'm proud.

Saved By The Bell. All of them, including Mr. Belding. (Ok, not Ms. Bliss. But give me a break.)
Leia (as in princess)
Tiger Lilly
Topanga
Moonbeam

That doesn't count all the kids I've named after you guys. Yup, all of you. I had a Dan and Eli in the same class, which was entertaining since Dan was an idiote and Eli was a punk. Their Korean counterparts weren't much better. HIYO!!

Sorry Jose, no luck. I managed to land a Maria, but that's as close as I could get to giving them Hispanic names. They just won't take...

Just thought I'd share.
-Al

Here Ya Go Laney (And Anyone Else Curious)

Dear Layne (& et. al.),


...no, not really. But I loved all the questions. Made me feel like she was there next to me. Honest, for a second I could almost imagine being back behind the wheel of a Mercury Tracer trying to sing Barenaked Ladies with the guys in the back while Laney asks a million questions and feeds me french fries on our way to Shine Choir. We're running late, of course.

They hate that.

Ok, let's see if I can clear up the questions.

We're breaking contract, plain and simple. That means no bonus or airfare home. It's a considerable chunk of change- around $6k- but they can keep it. This place has taken 1st place as job I liked the least, and when you've got a resume as long as mine (read: novel), that's saying something.

Actually, with exchange rate the number is lower, but that's another tale.

The idea is that we are not losing all of it, we're just earning it later. That's why we're swinging back up to Korea in July. We will do it legally, of course, because I'm not the type to break rules. Even if those rules are pointless bureaucracy that is obviously lining the pockets of some not-so-nice people, but is full of loopholes that people take advantage of all the time. Never that.

But there are a lot of camps in mid-July, many of which will let us earn two months salary-each- in about 3 weeks. We've also got some really good connections. I am certain that the camps will be a God-awful experience, but after some time on the beach I feel like I can handle a three week cannonball run.

Despite the breaking contract, though, we've given Plus Academy almost a full month notice, and there isn't much that they can do by way of retaliation, even if they were so inclined. I don't think they are. I think a part of them will be glad to see my backside, and not just for the obvious reasons everyone does.

(Insert obvious joke here)

As to the money and the traveling:

Our plan is pretty much figured out now. We're flying from Seoul into Bangkok, Thailand. From there we'll follow the peninsula down into Malaysia, and then catch a ferry into Indonesia. Indonesia's long string of islands stretch all the way to Darwin, Australia. There's a well worn path from previous backpackers, we'll hardly be blazing new trails with it. Once we get to Australia we'll be on a "Working Holiday" visa, which allows us to do any temp work we can find.

Little known fact: the principle job for Americans (& Canadians) in Australia is... fruit picking. That's right. When Americans go to Australia, they're the Mexicans. Now THAT'S irony.

Yes, we're planning on picking fruit. You can clear $200 AUD a day, and you only work as long as you want. So if you make the money you want by 2pm, you can go home. We also have a couple friends with an apartment that have offered floor space, so there ya go.

Now some of you are no doubt wondering, "Al, are you telling me Plus is so bad you'd chance thousands of dollars and/or pick fruit instead?"

Why yes, yes we would. Gladly.

Honestly, it isn't as bad as it sounds. We'll be doing the same thing we've watched dozens of people do. We came to Korea with certain goals, and we'll clear them as much as is reasonable, but among the most important was the backpacking. Our itinerary includes- I'm not making this up- seeing Komodo dragons, visiting an orangutan sanctuary, and a sunrise hike up a volcano. That's just Indonesia. I'm riding an elephant in the jungle, folks. Count on it.

Ok, don't. That's a silly thing to count on.

The blogs will be as often as I'm able, Internet cafes are pretty common, I'm hearing, but we'll see how it actually works out. Our departure date is February 9th-ish (read: NOT SOON ENOUGH), and we're running around like crazy trying to get ready.

FYI- Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines are still on the docket, not to mention Hong Kong and Macao if we can make it work. Just too many variables at the moment.

Ok, I'm outta time. More as we draw near, I'll try to get you some more photos soon too.

-Al

We Quit.

Yup, I'm serious.

No, we're not coming home early.


I feel a little guilty, actually. I don't have a horror story. I was paid on time, nothing was stolen, there was no God awful blowout (yet). It was just a gradual wearing down of our patience and the slow sucking of everything that made it worth while to work there.

But the logistics:

Our last day of classes will be January 30th. We'll leave Korea sometime in the beginning of February and head to one of two places: either overland through China and into Vietnam, or possibly via air into Bangkok. We're weighing pros and cons, looking into costs, visa issues, etc.

The plan, though, is to wander from February until about June, then come back to Korea and work a little longer. There are several short term camps that pay really well. We won't make as much as we wanted, but it should work out to us coming home with around $15,000 in the bank, assuming the exchange rate will be nice to us. Not a bad haul, all told.

UPDATE: Bangkok is looking a whole lot more likely. It's the place to begin backpacking for most travelers, and there is a lot more support for rookies such as ourselves. It also doesn't require a visa, which is huge seeing as both China and Vietnam do. The process for those visas is around $600 and several weeks. Not gonna work out.

I will say that we're not leaving because of Korea itself. We really enjoy the country, the people, even the whole big city vibe is nice in a "I'd Never Do This Permanently" kinda way. And the other people we've met... I can't say enough about them. They're some of the most remarkable people I've ever met. They've changed our lives in so short a time. I truly hope and pray that at least a few of them find their way down to Orlando so you all can meet them.

But you're probably looking for a little more back story.
It's been a long time coming, actually. We've been watching our workload ramp up and the attitude of the hagwon tank. They constantly are asking more and more of us with the expectation that we'll gladly take whatever they hand us. It's not unusual for a hagwon, but it's really getting old. So Jen and I have been exploring ways to leave PLUS and stay in Korea until the end of April, like we'd originally planned. There isn't a legal way to do it. And while, granted, that hardly stops me under most circumstances, this time it was playing with fire a little more than I was willing to do. So we decided to just suck it up and deal.

Then came Monday morning. Jen was suppose to start Muay Thai with me. My attendance had fallen off due to sickness at first, then afterwards I wasn't really sure why. Well, we overslept Monday, and rather than be upset I was just... blah. I hopped in the shower, and I really started thinking about all of it. It was then I just about cracked. I had to accept that I hated this job. I tried to deal, to suck it up, but I just hated it. It wasn't about homesickness, money, or anything like that. I just hated the job. It was taking the excitement out of everything else I was doing. I felt like this years ago when working for Fazoli's at the tender age of 16. I got to this point, and I quit. And I promised myself I'd never get to this point again. I wouldn't let work suck the joy out of my life, not if I had any other options. Which, of course, I do.

Truth be told, Jen probably would have stuck it out. She'd have been a bitter bitter woman, but she'd say it was worth it for the money. That's why she's in charge of the finances. But when we talked she saw how I was feeling and agreed. To be honest, I think it will be better for Jen, too.

We are praying constantly for guidance and direction. There's a lot to do, and not much time. But the Good Lord has been keeping a sharp eye on us all this time, and I'm certain he will now too. He likes Jen, after all....

More updates as I have them. Please know that we love and miss you all more than we can say. We do ask for your prayers as we try to plan this next step. I know what they say about God and plans, but He'll have to forgive me this one...

-Al & Jen

P.S. A note of irony: I applied for two different positions at the YMCA the same night we told PLUS we quit. Ha!