"Comedy"

Well, there really isn't anything funny about this picture. I guess it does make me laught that the leaves just started changing last week and I can still just wear a light jacket or t-shirt!

My current digital camera ( a sturdy old gal the size of a brick ) has a current battery life of about 5 minutes. It's more than ample frame makes it a cumbersome addition to any trip or outing. Tomorrow I will be picking up a new one. I will then be able to start documenting my time here a little more.


So I thought it was time I gave all of you a little taste of Korean pop culture. When I described this show to my students, they told me the name...I forgot it almost instantly.



Apparently, the woman in the bald cap with the side-ponytail is supposed to be Gollum.

We all know that Gollum has a side-ponytail and a brush and a stick for hands. I don't know why her stick hand is holding a cup, or why Gollum is with an evil Raggedy Anne.

This is not even the most disturbing part. This is a SHOW, meaning there are multiple adventures and routines for these misguided representations.

I am a passionate lover of absurdest comedy but some things seem to be a bit too much, and it is not just the language barrier.

It takes a lot to make me do a double-take, so I have to appreciate the truly demented and random stuff!




Here is Hugh Jackman and his Wolverine co-star Daniel Henney.


For your ultimate amusement here are links to some of the biggest K-Pop (Korean Pop) stars.

G-Dragon


Mc Mong's "Indian Boy"



Bubblegum Music is HUGE here!


Here, I have saved the best for last!

A link to my sketch blog!

Since I have not traveled or done anything of note, I will refer you to my sketchblog!
I now have a drafting table. It has been heavenly to start immersing myself in work again.

I WILL get to making a post on my boring domestic happenings this weekend.
Also, a virtual video tour of my apartment will be posted.

Enjoy the Art!

http://petergulsvig.com/sketch-blog

Korean Gym

The day started like any other. I woke up at 9:30 and enjoyed a trip to my Korean gym. My gym is a good gym. The membership was very cheap, about $115 dollars for four months membership. I have to adjust the weights in my head, most are only labeled in kilograms. I usually have to move the pin on the machines all the way down. It makes me fell a lot stronger than I am. The treadmills are designed more for mild body toning than complete max-cal fat burn workout. There is no incline option! Instead I must go by time and speed to get a good workout. It has been like training a Clydesdale to run like an Arabian Stallion (Thanks Anne and David!).

But I am getting ahead of myself. I was hit by a truck today.


That’s right, I was hit by a truck.




Those have who have spoken to me are familiar with my opinion about the approach Koreans have to driving. Some have TV’s on their dashboards that they watch while the drive. Attention while driving, even appears to be a very low priority for some.

I never hesitate to ride in a car here. They are very skilled drivers. Only two car/motor bike accidents have been witnessed since my have arrived. I am just an odd foreign variable in a very sensitive (albeit chaotic) equation of vehicular and pedestrian travel. I come from a different society with different driving rules. A society that drives defensively, a society that doesn’t use traffic lanes to park, a society that slows down and looks both ways, and a society where red really means STOP. Regrettably also a society that texts while driving.

At 11:56 am a truck came pouring out of an ally way while I was biking home. He did not stop for the sidewalk. He did not stop for any cars that may have been coming. Eventually he stopped for me.

In the two seconds prior to collision, the surrounding Koreans (men, women children) did not need a translator to understand the terrible English that poured from my mouth. Some words are universal.

Peter 1, truck 0.

He put on the brakes but not soon enough! My arm took off his mirror, and my left shoulder and torso left its mark on the front of his vehicle (my broad Grecian shoulder and sturdy bike handlebar taking the brunt of the blow). My bike was fine, my body was ok.

I repeat (Mom Dad) I AM OK. I AM OK!!!

The driver was very polite, but terrified (I was told Koreans here are just as sue happy as us Americanos). Aside from extremely mild whiplash and body tightness ( Like a jungle cat, my whole body becomes tense and readies for action during trauma) I feel fine. After all, the mind sometimes takes longer to get over these things!

I felt healthy enough to ride my bike to work and hour and a half later. Of course, I looked a little like a scared rabbit the whole way there!

p.s. Mom, Dad, I’m OK!

Halloween Part 2

I found a party store downtown with the help of a friend, but there wasn't much there. But a block away there was a fabric store! I basked in being able to find plain white cloth. My crusader costume was off to a good start.

This was what I dressed as two years ago, but it had all the features of a successful party costume: freedom of movement, no mask or hat to lose and the costume would allow me to "breath."

The night however, belonged to my buddy Joe:



He managed to find a dress to fit his build...even though the back of his gown was not cooperating:


Getting him ready was a full time job, so we spent some pre-party time over at Anna and Rachel's apartment (which is shockingly spacious).







This is my best kitty friend, Mondu. He loved to scratch at the tassels on my costume, and my bare muscular legs.

Most of the evening was spent at the two foreign establishments. Karaoke was kept everyone rocking.



I think this song was something by "Deep Purple."