Thursday, November 29, 2007

and that may be the end of that

Well, it looks like the new climbing gym might be closing and/or going under new management. The guy who owns it is talking to someone about selling.

Though granted, there are both up and downsides - I finally stood up for myself to a Korean man and pointed out that I 1) knew I was big for a climber - particularly in Korea - and didn't need to be reminded about it and 2) if I kept hearing about it I wouldn't be able to go back there. Also, although I got one long, solid route in, he more wanted to talk after that, so I didn't get as much done as I had hoped.

I guess I'm just frustrated. I want to be able to climb inside this winter, but it seems that my only real option is to climb where I don't have a lot of fun. I'm just not sure what to do right now. And I'm co-dependent enough to say things like, "well, really, was it really that bad?" or "maybe I'll feel differently if I only do XYZ" or wonder if I'm just being a big whiny baby.

You know what? Screw it. If there this place stays open, even under new management, I'll climb there, but I was really becoming unhappy and a total crankypants and no fun to be around from climbing at the other gym. And while I was becoming a better gym climber, I wasn't seeing it transfer to climbing outside in a proportionate way. I'll try to get out with friends as much as possible, and will focus on general strength and fitness at the regular gym, but I really just don't want to keep setting myself up to feel bad about myself.

Monday, November 26, 2007

I had my co-teacher call and find out when I could go to the other climbing gym in Mokpo, and it is still open! And so I went tonight for a while, and it was AWESOME. There is a long wall with a route that was challenging but do able, and people were nice, pointing out the route without making me feel micromanaged, then just letting me work things out. . It was pointed out that I would be a better climber if I was a smaller person, but whatever, this is Korea and I'd be better at EVERYTHING if I was a smaller person, and it was done in a reasonable manner and my feelings weren't hurt. There were bright colors on the walls and I had fun.

Also, he is letting me climb for free for December, which ROCKS. And he is SMOKING HOT. Really. Also, he is a giant, especially for a Korean climber. Sigh.

For Mokpo folks, if you are interested in going, I'd recommend having a co-teacher or a Korean-speaking friend call first to make sure someone is there to let you in. I'm probably going to be going twice a week. Let me know if you need contact information - I have a handful of business cards.

climbing and running

1. The indoor gym we went to this weekend freaking ROCKED - a bunch of lead climbing areas, tons of bouldering room, huge and nice. The only downside is the only heat is a space heater. Also, the next few weeks we won't be able to be there since they are doing an alpine course, which makes me a little sad.

2. I ordered quickdraws. Merry Christmas to me.

3. Since I'm not climbing with Mokpo Climbing Club anymore (at least for the time being...) I'm going to join some of my friends who are doing a "running club" and I'm pretty excited. I'm going to use this as a kick in the pants to run more often and to bring times down. I have been flirting with the idea of maybe possibly thinking about doing the 1/2 marathon in Jeju next June (where I did my first 10k this year) but I don't know if that is just the crazy talking right now.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

weekend

Overall, this weekend was pretty great, with one small blip of yuck.

+ I did my first lead climb ever! It was a super-easy route on an indoor wall, but I did it! Yay! And I'm psyched to do more.
+ Some friends headed down for the weekend to climb, and while the weather wasn't optimal to be outside to climb, we had a really good time at the indoor stadium.

- A very young friend ended up embarrassing himself at a party. I feel bad for all parties right now (both the friend and the person who was hosting). Kids, let's all remember that Korean alcohol should be treated with a good bit of caution.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Simplest thing in the world

I found this link from the Stumptuous blog which links to Josh Hillis' blog where he quoted:

Calories in, Calories out
You must come to accept the factual calories in and out aspect of weight management; otherwise, there's no point in trying to solve for the motivation aspect. Repeat after me: if you’re overweight, it’s not because of your age, it’s not your thyroid, it’s not menopause, it’s not because you don’t eat enough, it’s not your parents’ fault, it’s not the number of fat cells you were born with, it’s not that you don’t do your aerobic work in your target heart range, it’s not high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), it’s not that you weren’t breast fed, it’s not your medication, it’s not your hormones, it’s not sugar, it’s not trans fat, it’s not saturated fats, it’s not carbohydrates, it’s not because you eat after 7:00PM, it’s not because you had a baby, it’s not because you eat the wrong glycemic foods, and, no, it’s not the fast food industry’s fault if you are overweight and don’t like it...

...So let’s get past the calorie piece and all the misinformation and boil it down to one simple sentence you can apply to your life right now: “I won’t think about anything else except eating fewer calories than I burn until I reach my goal.” Say it again! “I won’t think about anything else except eating fewer calories than I burn until I reach my goal”.



Particularly apt as I get ready to dive head-first into a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy this weekend, I think.

(oh, and I second Stumptuous when I add that you might maybe want to think about something else some of the time, or you become really, really annoying. Though that thing probably shouldn't be knitting, because as experience has taught me, if there is anything that makes someone's eyes glaze over faster that shooting down diet myths, it is talking about yarn. YMMV.)

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

:(

I wish I was in Indiana.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

~

The past two evenings I've been going back to the gym I went to the first month I lived in Mokpo.

Walking home, I feel so much more at peace now, I can't really describe it. Like, by lifting weights a weight has been lifted, or something redorkulous like that.

Monday, November 19, 2007

climbing

This weekend was a climb with the local club. I'm still sort of processing things, but I think maybe climbing with the Korean club may not be for me.

There were a couple of things I over-reacted to this weekend - things that I took as insults that were more a matter of communication then an actual attempt to be insulting. But there were some things that just didn't make me feel comfortable and some things that WERE insulting. When your friends ask, "do they always treat you like this?" when you don't think they are treating you as badly as they usually do, well, there are problems. There are many people that I like as individuals, but as a group it is just very difficult for me to deal with.

The thing that was the most clear is that when I climb with other foreigners, I have fun. When I'm with the local club, I have much less fun. While physically I'm a stronger climber then I was almost two months ago (when I started climbing inside), I feel like I'm going backwards in terms of the mental aspects and I'm not really sure how to fix that. But feeling like crap about myself isn't helping anything.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

full circle

I finished a hat I started on Monday at school as my "school knitting" project - the thing I work on to keep my hands busy while I'm basically just doing crowd control while my co-teacher teaches or while I'm playing on the internet during the massive amount of downtime I have during the day. It is handspun dark brown alpaca with a few stripes of a variegated pinkish awesome-ish yarn I bought in Terre Haute before heading to East Tennessee last summer. I bought the alpaca in Gatlinburg, so it really is fitting that I was working on it as I move into major homesickness time for me (around Thanksgiving. Hits me wicked hard). It is super warm and soft. I'm pleased.

And the warm will come in handy this weekend, as the weather seems to have decided to turn into winter. And I am climbing this weekend with the Korean club. And have I ever mentioned that I am a delicate flower and really don't like the cold much? BUT I have a new fabulous "down" vest, and will be able to wear the handknit sweater that is too warm for almost anything other than a Korean classroom in winter and a new super-cool hat, so here's hoping that I don't freeze my little fingers off.

I'm actually a little nervous about this climbing trip.

Also, if I was ASKED to go, I'd be super-psyched, but since I was TOLD to go, I'm being cranky about it. Because that's how I roll (just typing that makes me laugh out loud. Moving on.).

Okay, happy news again, the yarn I ordered from the states arrived and I have been swatching (!!!! I almost never do that) for a sweater with this stunning brown tweedy yarn, and since I can't even get close to gauge I'm going to risk it and just make the smallest size, which after doing some math, should be close enough. I have also started a pair of mittens in the softest yarn I have ever worked with - La Fiesta Baby Boom in plum pudding. Mostly pink with hints of purple. This is where pictures would be awesome, yeah? Oops. Anyway, Merino, pretty, and the latest school knitting project. And we are full circle again.

Monday, November 12, 2007

10k

IMG_0447.JPG

Crossing the finish line at yesterday's 10k. The race course was beautiful!! The timing in terms of the trees changing colors was just about perfect, and while the first three km were rather hilly and worried me (I thought the whole course would be like that) it flattened out and was just plain gorgeous for the rest of the race.

IMG_0440.JPG
Brandon got to hit the gong to start the 10k race (he was cheering on Terri, who rocked out her first 5k race!)

10k runners
the Mokpo 10k team.

Also, in healthy-stuff news, I went to the gym at lunch for the first time today! I need to work out the timing and work out a condensed routine, but I think it will let me keep the happy endorphin/alone time rush and let me make better progress, while still giving me time to climb in the evenings. Go me.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

4 very good things.

1. My mom is having knee replacement surgery, and this morning I got the message that everything went well. There was more damage then they thought so the operation took a bit longer than expected, but everything was fine. She starts rehab right away.

2. The sun was out today!! I haven't seen that for a while.

3. I got to come home early! There was a teacher field trip that was going to go until 8-9 tonight, so I declined, and got to come home after lunch!

4. My co-teacher told me that I can go to my gym at lunch! I thought it was one of those things that I would ask for and get shot down right away, but she said it wouldn't be a problem. This brings me great joy.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

corporal punishment

Over the past two years, most of the teachers I have worked with have kept the corporal punishment to a minimum, at least while I'm around. While there are still things that happen pretty regularly, (like kids duck-walking down the hall or kneeling with the hands over their heads) at least I am usually sheltered from seeing teachers actually hit children.

It has been explained to me a "cultural difference" situation, and in the scale of punishment, I thought the teacher who took away the socks from girls who were talking to much (in the unheated classroom, in winter, leaving them in sandals for the day) was more cruel than the times I've seen a teacher hit a kid in any of the schools I've been in.

This year, my classroom is right next-door to a room where a teacher deals out corporal punishment almost constantly. I don't think I have ever walked past his room where there isn't at least one student standing, and almost always there are at least three kids kneeling at the back of his classroom. Today, I walked past the room while he was hitting the hands of one of the girls who has never been anything other than wonderful in my class. And it wasn't the token "tap" that I have seen before - it was hitting her with a stick hard enough that I could hear it while I passed.

I am still so angry about this. I told my co-teacher how bad horrible I thought he was, and she did the token "cultural differences" routine. I pointed out that I understand that, but he does something EVERY DAY, and she admitted that it is common knowledge in the school that he punishes kids too harshly, but no one has made him stop.

I don't even know what to do. I may take a picture of his class the next time I see an army of kids kneeling, and when he asks why, tell him that no one in the States can believe that teachers would really treat students that way without being arrested.

Monday, November 05, 2007

yay, lists.

1. Every time I read this shirt I laugh.
From threadless.

2. Walking down the 6th grade hallway, I saw the entire range of classrooms in Korea:
6.1 - teacher facilitating, students answering questions and filling out the schedule for the day. Interactive, but under control.
6.2 - the entire class was holding their hands over their heads. I'm not sure why.
6.3 - students were working in groups on projects. Amazing - kids having fun AND working, of all things!!
6.4 - students sitting up straight, chairs in rows, choral recitation of the lesson.
6.5 - 1/3's of the class reading independently, 1/3 of the class walking back and forth across the back of the classroom in deep knee bends with their hands over their heads while the teacher hollered at them, 1/3 kneeling with their hands over their heads, waiting to get hollered at.

3. What the heck happened in the 4th quarter of the Colts game? I was checking the score until I had to go to class, but I come back and they lost? What?

4. I have no idea why, but last weekend I got scared while climbing. And it was being scared of falling, which really, I should have gotten over at this point. No idea what was going on. Maybe it was karma getting back by making jokes about the "Litany Against Fear" from Dune when a friend was getting psyched to lead on the drive over. ("I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." Frank Herbert) Or maybe it was the threat of singing to her, "Everything's gonna be alright now" while she was climbing. In my defense, the person thought it was funny. Anyway, it was on climbs I've worked on before and there was no good reason for it.

Friday, November 02, 2007

NaKniSweMo

For those who don't know, for several years NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - gets thousands of people to commit to writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. About .009% of participants are eventually published (If you don't count the people who self-publish) but for the next month, about 100,000 people on the internet will think of themselves as writers.

More people reading, more people writing, more people thinking about the power of words. All good things. But I think that calling myself a "writer" because I can crank out 50,000 words would be like calling myself a chef because I cooked dinner.

So instead of NaNoWriMo, I will be participating in NaKniSweMo, where I will commit to knit a 50,000 stitch sweater in a month.

And I'm almost enough of a geek to figure out how many stitches the sweater I want to work on actually has.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

1. I was just invited to join the other 6th grade teachers in the staff room for something to eat. Walking down the hall, my only thought was, "wow, this doesn't smell appetizing at all." When I walked in, there were plates of red pepper paste with still live octopus wriggling on them. STILL LIVE. WRIGGLING.

I walked over to my co-teacher and (I thought rather calmly) mentioned that I would be coming back to the classroom since I couldn't deal with the LIVE OCTOPUS. And her response was a genuinely surprised "Really?" Then she laughed. Not really in a mean way, but still.

(For the handful of people in Mokpo, I know this is common, but it is something I've been able to avoid for the past 2 months. Ick and yuck.)

2. Dear People on the street during my run yesterday,

Listen, I get that you maybe don't see many foreigners, nor do you see many women running, so when you see both those things all in one person, it is a bit of a shock. To the cool old dude who smiled in a non-creepy way and said "fighting!", thanks. For those old men who stood in the middle of the running path to stare, the old women who took up the whole path and refused to move to let people pass, the dudes on bikes who slowed down to watch, the people who almost ran into me with their bikes because couldn't both stare and control the bike, and the idiot peeing on the sidewalk, I really hate you. And old men who smell like soju? I hate you most of all.

No love at all (except you, "fighting" dude),
Me

am boring.

This is my week.

work, climb, socialize, knit.

I am boring but busy.

And I need to decide what I want to do and where I want to go when I move back to the US.

Also, you should play the on-line game Free Rice. Basically, a multiple choice vocabulary game, and every time you get an answer right, 10 grains of rice is donated through the UN. Plus, it makes me feel a little less like my brain is atrophying.