Yesterday was Sunday, and the plan was to head to 잠실역 (Jamsil Station) with 진희 to go bike riding. However the place that rented bikes was going to close shortly after our arrival, so we moved to Plan B: ice skating at Lotte World.
I have not been ice skating since middle school (or possibly earlier), but was more than willing to get my skate on, knowing full well I would more likely than not be on my ass more times than I could count. 진희 and I rented our skates, and then headed off to hit the ice.
The layout of the ice rink was pretty horrible. After putting our skates on, 진희 and I had to go down a flight of stairs, walk a short distance in a hall and then go up another flight of stairs. Now it might have just been the fact that I haven’t been skating in quite some time, but walking up and down flights of stairs in skates isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do…and were this America, would have been an invitation for a lawsuit.
On the ice I fared much better than I thought I would have. I only fell twice (and once was because I was mocking someone else and then fell down myself). So 진희 and I skated while attempting to avoid the old men than were doing speed skating.
After skating for a couple hours, there was some message over the intercom telling all skaters to clear the ice.
“Awesome! A zamboni!” I thought to myself, but it was not a zamboni…no my friends, there was no zamboni to be seen, and instead we were treated to an ice show!
Since there is no Thanksgiving in November here in Korea, the Christmas season has already commenced (which leads me to wonder when does Christmas lunacy begin in other nations outside of America…Canadians I’m looking for your insight in particular)…anyhow I digress. It’s the Christmas season here in Korea so we were treated to an outstanding ice show / marching band playing Christmas tunes. And though none of the pictures of the band turned out that well, let me say that had the Shaker Junior High school band looked like the Lotte World marching band, perhaps I would not have quit playing the French Horn in 8th grade.
So 진희 and I watched the show, and then decided to head out to get some dinner.
Dinner was some 3 year old 김치찌개 again, and after dinner we head to a coffee shop for some coffe (me), tea (진희) and a chat (진희 and I). During the course of the conversation, I learned that Doogie Howser M.D. had been on television here and the characters were dubbed. It was not revealed what Vinny (or was it Vinnie) sounded like in Korean.
After talking about ALF, Smurfs, Doogie Howser, and other assorted nonsense, we called it a night, and I headed home. If you want to see more pictures of me nearly falling on my ass be sure to check out the photo album here.
Around the 1st of December around these parts.
Comment by peemil — November 21, 2005 @ 15:14 pm
It started like a weeks ago in Australia
Comment by Jay Lee — November 21, 2005 @ 18:10 pm
in England you see the Christmas stuff when they clear away the BBQ stuff. And I wish I was kidding.
Comment by swiss james — November 21, 2005 @ 20:06 pm
The lunacy is in full swing back in Canada.. usually it occurs shortly after Veterans Day (Rememberance Day)..
Comment by Shaun — November 21, 2005 @ 22:36 pm
yesterday, i saw a tv commercial for a “thanksgiving day sale” at a local grocery store…the jingle in the background was “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!”
Comment by Paul — November 22, 2005 @ 3:52 am
Christmas in Korea. First and foremost…it’s marketing. The shopping involved not to mention spending money on restaurants, dating-related thingamajingies…etc. Secondly, a third of the Koreans are either Christian or Catholic…a few Mormons here and there. So yeah…it starts early…gotta start making that money than sitting on your butt till a couple of weeks before Christmas, right?
Comment by Ho-Seon — November 22, 2005 @ 13:28 pm
Here in Canada, I’m seeing decoration around the mall, Walmart is already selling wrappers and such, the news segments have Christmas related stories, the Santa Claus parade in also in November. Oh ya….and old man winter’s taking the hint and it’s already snowing.
Comment by Meena — November 22, 2005 @ 14:28 pm
Hi again. First I want to say that I think this is a great blogsite with honest opinions and a respectful group of readers with excellent blog-manners.
Which leads me to my next point. I need people like you to help circulate this file. It’s an mp3 clip of a call made at a radio station in Philadelphia on the Star and Buc Wild morning show. It’s incredibly racist and needs your attention.
It’s easier if Americans stop other Americans from racist behavior than it is for non-Americans to do so. People need to know what’s going on in order to fix the problem.
Thanks.
Comment by Ho-Seon — November 22, 2005 @ 14:58 pm
the website:
http://angryasianman.com/ Power99…ll_to_India.mp3
Comment by Ho-Seon — November 22, 2005 @ 15:00 pm
http://angryasianman.com/ Power99…ll_to_India.mp3
Comment by Ho-Seon — November 22, 2005 @ 15:02 pm
Ho-seon,
Is that clip the one where they say something to the effect that the tsunami from last winter was a good thing, or are they up to more rediculous antics?
Comment by Wyatt — November 22, 2005 @ 17:23 pm
Yeah…I have to work at Target on Black Friday…It’s basically going to suck King Kong’s giant testicles.
Comment by Ailinn — November 23, 2005 @ 3:54 am
Ailinn,
(cue Nelson voice from Simpsons)Ha. Ha.
Comment by Wyatt — November 23, 2005 @ 8:28 am
Wyatt,
Actually no. It was a call made to a call center where the receiver was a woman working in India. It was recorded and played on the air. The Indian woman was called “dirty rat eater”, “bitch”, etc. on the air. For some reason the link doesn’t copy correctly.
/Power99_call_to_India.mp3
Comment by Ho-Seon — November 23, 2005 @ 8:35 am
last comment, I promise.
www.angryasianman.com/Power99_Call_to_India.mp3
Comment by Ho-Seon — November 23, 2005 @ 8:37 am