Weekend Crash Episode Six

I should have been posting these every week we do them, but I it happens. If you watched the last one, we've gotten way better with . . . everything. Just watch it.

Weekend Crash Episode Six

The Weekend Crash Episode 2

So my friend and I decided we were bored and decided to make a podcast internet show. It's commentary about life here in Korea but with a more light hearted twist to everything. It's more SNL than 60 minutes, but we think it's funny. We hope you do too.


Go Here For the Weekend Crash

"It's A Men's Carry-All!"

You know, I make jokes about guys carrying purses in Korea, but I'm beginning to understand.

Years ago when I watched the old “Murse” episode of Sienfield I never thought the idea would catch on. Living in the southeastern part of the United States, certain ideas are slow to perpetrate, even in the cities like Atlanta. Several times I remember even my grandmother questioning why I still carried a backpack after I graduated from college. Her reasoning? “Men just don't do that.” The most advanced it got was a briefcase and I always associated those with cubicle worker drones and wall street brokers.

(It's a Carry All for the Last Time!)

Then Kanye West and his “Louis Vutton Don” backpack shook up everything; a year or so after his first album dropped and suddenly dudes are walking around with brown Louie V bags. Still, it was (and still is ) a “GQ” concept. Where I come from, if it doesn't have two straps and goes on your back then you don't wear it. So even thought I was warned ahead of time about the metro-sexual guys here in South Korea, the man-bags shocked me right along with Korean guys walking arm in arm and male celebs doing cosmetic ads.

(Coming soon: His and her compacts)

However, it all fits. Look up the term “pretty boy” and you'll probably see a picture of the F4 guys from “Boys Over Flowers.” Younger guys here put just as much time into their appearance as the ladies, so why shouldn't they make sure the bag and tie match?

(Put in them the sunlight and their skin sparkles with glitter!)

While we from the west find the idea a bit of a joke, we forget one thing; it's actually PRACTICAL to carry a bag. In fact, it may be MORE practical for us who are just visiting. Most expats here don't own cars and rely on public transportation. That means planning ahead is essential because often going back home isn't an option.

(Yep, That's an NFL QB. . . )

Also consider that in 2010 people just carry more stuff around. Many carry laptops or netbook, various gadgets, mp3 players, notebooks, books, clothing, cameras and the like. And because bathrooms in Korea don't always have toilet paper, men often carry packets of tissue around.

(Man-bag AND Skinny jeans. . . . yeeesh!)

Want another reason? Then just go shopping. Stores often don't give you a shopping bag unless you ask for them and Grocery stores here even charge you FOR the plastic bags when you request them. The idea that all you need is your wallet and cell phone seems a bit dated with you consider all of this.

So while I can completely see the rationale behind carrying around a bag; the part I can't get my head around is the fashion element. Do they have to look so. . . purse-like? The fact that many of the bags here DO look like purses can be off-putting for some. There are already those negative connotations of manhood and sexuality attached to so many things here and the murse is yet another one. Accuse any guy with a messenger bag of carrying a muse and watch him squirm in their seats. Much of it also just comes from comfort. Many guys have no issues with the idea itself, but they just aren't progressive enough to take a chance on a bag that MIGHT actually be meant for their mom or girlfriend.

(Even The guys at ROKetship.com understand this all too well.)

As for me, I'll keep my backpack. I think I would look silly with a “satchel” slung around my chest considering my size and height.

Weekend Warrior Report: Where Does The Time Go?

One of the disadvantages I've run into is that most extra curricular activities are usually on Saturdays. Most hagwon teachers work evenings so activities geared towards ex-pats tend to favor their schedules. To me, this is one of the few disadvantages to working for public schools/EPIK.

Want to go up to Seoul and visit friends or take in the nightlife? Going to be on the weekend. Korean class at the YMCA? Most classes are either mid-day on select weekdays or Saturday morning. If you want to start an activity, club or organization, then you'll more than likely have to meet up on Saturdays because that's when people will have time for it. There are exceptions, but it can make for some tough scheduling choices.

My own Saturday schedule is this: Band Rehearsal at 2, Salsa at 8, then dinner with friends afterwards. Doesn't sound like much, but before the winter break I took Korean classes early in the morning on Saturdays and went to Fight Club at 1:30. When I joined my band, I had to give up Fight Club (an activity I've done for over a year) because those times overlapped. Then I recently took up an activity on Fridays that goes from 11pm to 3am.

So imagine this schedule once school starts:

Friday: 11-3AM - Get home about 4 AM
Saturday: 11-1 Korean class. 2-4 or 5 rehearsal, get home about 6. Leave house for Salsa lessons around 7 or 7:15 and get there just before 8. Salsa is from 8-10 with social dancing afterward. Dinner with friends around 11. THEN you get to go out for the rest of the evening. Add in travel times (train, walking, cab, etc) and you have a full day ahead of you.

I used to have Sundays to recover, but now there is another activity that started on Sundays that starts at 1pm. Yikes!

Doesn't leave much space for any unexpected events like birthday parties, going away parties and other activities (all common things here). This leaves me with a lot of free weekday evenings. I would much rather spread out some activities during the week and free up weekend time.

I am looking at options. There is a new hagwon that teaches Korean to foreigners here and they are open on weekdays. The downside is the prices are high for classes. The YMCA 12 week course is the about the same price as one month at this school. Granted, classes are several times a week and the YMCA classes are once a week, so it evens out a bit. So it's a dilemma I'm trying to settle here.

As for fight club, I plan on going back to Daegu MMA for weekday workouts. While I would love to have that extra day on Saturdays to work out with my friends, it's not required if I renew my membership. I will see my friends later on that evening on Saturdays.

I had planned on taking some vacation time and going up to Seoul to visit a friend who is leaving Korea soon. Due to obligations, I wasn't able to go. I also had to pass on participating in an event because of scheduling conflicts. Most of the participants were Hagwon teachers and rehearsal times would have been during the day.

I'm not so much complaining as I'm trying to look for a medium for all of this. It's getting a bit out of hand and stretching me thin. I felt it this past weekend when I found myself face down in my bed with little motivation to move on Sunday (and none of it was influenced by alcohol!). I have friends who are active in other things and they too have expressed their own frustrations with keeping such schedules. I honestly like having things to do. Just not on top of each other. Now if I could clone myself, then I wouldn't have this issue.