A JOURNAL OF A STRANGER

Old Melbourne Gaol

2009-12-21T00:19:00.000-08:00

I heard about this prison from my friend, He said " They treat you as a prison, even they use coarse languages to you!! " I got excited about that I could have some great experience. Yeah...

but It wasn't intense impact to me. The police guy was such a gentle man. I could do better than him.

A poor prisoner : you deserved it!!

On the second floor

The death mask of Ned Kelly

They arrested me charging for possessing illegal drugs

St.Kilda beach in Melbourne

2009-12-18T14:15:00.000-08:00

Since I left Griffith, I have tried to get a city job in Melbourne. Heather and Lisa helped me a lot. It was not easy to get it. It reminded me of my first week in Australia. How was it?? Don't asked me. Got to think again that Money is not all of my life. It goes and comes. Now It doesn't matter anymore. I found out more valuable myself than me before. It might be one of the reasons why we should travel around the world.

Went to St. Kilda beach to relax my brain. It tends to break down, or get stuck at the moment : I know I get older. Damn it.

On the bridge, Look at the buildings behind.

Lots of boats

The street before the coast

An old man & Hot bikini babes.

Portraits

2009-07-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

Working in an Orange farm

2009-07-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

As you wish, I got the first job in Australia. It has been a terrible but valuable moment since 2 months. In the end I did it!! I'm proud of myself a little bit at the moment. Now I show you guys what I exactly do here.
Sumar Produce, which is not a family name, the owner named this farm though I don't know what it means. Above all, this farm is too wide to see everything here. I realized that I need a car when I came to this farm. Actually, I didn't think I needed any car in Seoul, but Here...Cars are essential transportation ,and nobody denies that. I tried to get a driver license for getting a better position, there wasn't a lot of chance for strangers. I shall get the license in Korea after this trip!!
My duty is to pick oranges as fast as I can. It's so easy. Everybody can do this job. And we fill in a bin which can take 500 KG of oranges. I was slow at first day, but now I'm almost a professional picker now. Just pick pick pick!! that's all!!21 dollars per bin..honestly it's not high deal. I should have minimum 12 bins a day. Get tired everyday,but It's so peaceful ,and awesome to work with the scenery of the nature. You could understand if you saw this beautiful view around.

Here, enjoy the magnificent views in Griffith!!!

Stupid sheeps

Michele & Peter

Small River

Orange trees

Field

Crazy Billy

In Griffith

2009-06-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

It's been approximately 3 weeks since I came here.... don't still get any job yet. Too much conscious at the first week, but now I don't feel anything gloomy, cheerless or annoying. I think I overcame the circumstance, " HOME SICK "
In this Hostel, there are too many Korean people. At the moment there are only four native English speakers here. Well... this is NOT Australia. Just small korean island?, huh??Should leave soon after saving money for the other places. Not sure when it will be, but the weather here makes me fucking irritable!!! (I want to shout this sentence) It has been raining for 2 weeks.
Cars are esenssial to move to somewhere. In every state in Aussie land except the famous cities, it is too uncomfortable to move without them, and it is better for contracting to the owners of the farms. I didn't need the driver license in Seoul before. I might go to the driving academy directly as soon as I come back to In-chon airport.
I'm still waiting for the job, some mitht say " why don't you looking for it by yourself? " Actually I did!! Just realized that it was good for nothing here. The financial situation isn't good, but I will stay in this building until the glorious moment. Don't give up, should enjoy this mental pain.Afterwards, Everything shall be easier for me than before.
Don't complain this condition, just watch me doing what I want to do!!

Melbourne city

2009-05-11T04:49:00.000-07:00

Finally...Here I come!!! It's been 3 days since I got here. Everything is still new. I just worry about getting used to this country well. It might be well as I wish.

Today, I went to the central city to apply my visa and bank account. It was quite tough,but I did them anyway. The officers and the clerks were very kind...even more than Korean people^^Maybe 'cause I love to listen to English accent. After then. Looked around the city for a long time. Let me show you guys some pictures.

Flinders Street Station

Me with Yarra river

Yarra river 1

Yarra river 2

The rebirth of the nature

2009-04-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday Morning, I went up the mountain to smell the spring flavor. I couldn't see green leaves, but the spring wind touched my cheeks.

Korean forsythia I found on the path

We call this "Pal-gak-jung"

How can I call this? stream???

Korean rose bay

On the rock I read a book about the history of the navigation. The ancient scholars invented many things we can't mention. It caused my interest more and more.

Some people don't know that we are just tiny points in the world. When I see some of them, they wanted to walk on safe way as their parents do. Am I insane not to understand them?

The society makes them like that, but Human beings always dream!! We should get over, and fight against our limits!! Now I got a mission, " Understanding the world and Showing it my abilities " It's a little abstract. ha....

This is what I thought about on the rock.

Mom....please forgive your terrible son..

2009-03-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

It was Mom's birthday today. Of course I did the celebration for her in the night she came home. With Ice cream cake, and the present, she was so pleased but my heart was already broken. When I was waiting the bus, holding presents for her, I couldn't bear some tears in my eyes. She has been sacrificing herself for the family since she got married. Work, home. work, home, work, home. on Sunday ...Church...,and home..until Now. What's the meaning of her life?? The world doesn't allow her to do anything for her. I curse the age , the society, the custom. I can't allow them happened again. Maybe I hope I had a chance to change everything. Now I confirm my political view again, " No Power, No peace "

The point I couldn't forgive myself was that I hadn't known it until 2 days ago. I was concentrating on my stuff. There is Korean Saying " Look around more when you hurry " Ah............ I hate myself today. I shall make her happy forever!

Hanging out around the city hole.

2009-03-04T01:50:00.000-08:00

Minstrel, General, Soldier.

Planing the first journey.

2009-02-27T03:24:00.000-08:00

Long time no see my blog.... I had had a lot to think about my future. In the end my brain couldn't bear too many thoughts, so I got headache for a few days. One day on left side of my head, and day on the other side.... Fortunately I'm OK now.

Here is my plan. I decided to go to Australia for working holiday. I told everybody that I wanted to go to Spain, but the financial situation in Korea has been horrible these days. I had to go to a place I couldn't expect. 1900 won per 1 euro!!!! Can you believe it?? It's a crazy circumstance!!
Economy in every country is in panic, but who else thinks that it affects themselves??

Question. Which is better, Taking a part-time job staying in a place for a long time, or picking fruits going around in Australia?? Some recommended the first one, and some recommended the second one. Actually I like the first 'cause I need to study in a good condition.

Everything moves for my aspiration " Going to Spain!!! " I have a vacation for 7 days next week. I'll apply for visa to Australia, and have a medical test. Don't worry Bill!! You're doing well. Siempre buena suerte!!!

Portraits

2009-02-17T02:39:00.001-08:00

Still practising.....

Unexpected trip ( Day 2 )

2009-02-08T02:40:00.000-08:00

We got up at about 10 A.M. Decided to go to a cave called Go-su. The landlord told that I took about 30 minutes to get there, but we didn't have any transportation to use. So I asked him to give us a ride there, he accepted my proposal willingly.

The cave looked like that I'm inside a gut. There was nothing but weird stones. It wasn't as huge as I expected. Couldn't believe that it was a masterpiece of the nature. Paul and James kept murmuring "Wonderful, Amazing" Actually It wasn't a perfect scenery for me. Just wanted to get out of there.

Inside the cave

After getting outside. We bumped into a store to sell some tea. The ingredients were from roots of flowers. It relieved everything through my throat, and it was tasty a little bit. Tea, Fresh sir, Sunshine.... I felt I was welcome to this place.

After lunch we were determined to get on a ship on the river. The ice on the river had been melting when we got there. The Scenery was what I was looking for. The wind, the mountains with snow, and the river were magnificent unless I was blind.

This is the best one of my trip.

In a drama set.

Our final course was a huge temple village( I want to call it! ) It was like a village on the mountain. A taxi driver said that we should have seen a statue in a temple on the top. I hadn't
done the exercise for a long time, so it was a big chance to clean inside my body. The village was more beautiful that any other temples. Being close to the nature, this is what I feel when I see Buddhists. There is no desire in their mind. However, it doesn't fit my way. I want to talk, cooperate, sing with the world. That is one of the reasons why I don't like religions.

The temple village( Gu-in-sa )

I always feel that I'm stuck in the cell during the ceremony on Sunday. Once I saw a TV show, a famous singer was being asked what his dream is. Then he answered " I want to fly"

Yes, it's stupid, but it is not a goal, it is dream! Maybe he was drunken I think. I think I still desire " Freedom " from somewhere. Parents?? It's different.

What I felt with this trip was that there were numerous things I have to see in the world. So I decided to understand my country first. They might have been waiting for me until now. Now I shall find the message from soul. Oh........... Too much abstract. Wake Up!!!

Unexpected trip ( Day 1 )

2009-02-01T18:51:00.000-08:00

A week ago, Paul and James asked me to travel to somewhere with them. Momentarily, I said "yes" without hesitating. Didn't know why. Just desired to go somewhere. Perhaps, it was for me struggling to get out of the low self esteem which went on for a while these days.

The place we went was Danyang where I'd never heard about. And I worried about the trip because that It was snowing, and it was a big national holiday in Korea. On the contrary we would attempt to get there. I found a beautiful place to stay on the Internet. We were so lucky.

In the morning my phone rang, and I answered. It was Romie teacher. Well..... honestly I didn't expect a lot of people, but she hadn't got along with us.(But with Paul??? I don't know) It was 30 minutes ago you know... Anyway she wanted to come with us, so I couldn't say "NO!!!!", and we started our journey from Su-yu station at last.

It took about 3 hours by bus to Danyang. Paul was wearing Noel Gallagher's sunglasses on the bus, James's I-pod had broken down suddenly. But for me everything was exciting.

After getting off the bus, we went to a market for some food. It cost over 120.000 won for two days. I didn't care the price, the only thing I cared was the barbecue at the house.

We arrived at the house at 5 P.M. We couldn't go some famous places that day, but I took some pictures of the scenery.

The scenery from the house.

The house we stayed.

I set these bottles of beer, but we couldn't finish them.

The barbecue set I love.

Afterwards, I grilled some pork, and Romie cooked the other food. As you wish, the dinner was great although I got drunken rapidly with two glasses of white wine. Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire was on TV in the night. Everybody was bored but me. I like fantastic stories. I know that they are too far from reality, but they always give me Hope ; The reason why I live, the oasis at your dry mind like a desert.

After then we played a Korean card game called "Go & Stop" James won twice though he didn't know the rule much. Finally the first day of the trip had been ended gradually with my snoring, and , many things were waiting for us on the second day.

Learning Languages

2009-01-13T05:07:00.000-08:00

Some people might say " I 'm studying English " But I disagree with that. I think that Languages are not scholarships, they are habits!! Habit!!! that you have to repeat for a long time!!!! Many people don't understand me. But now I shall show you my own way to LEARN languages.

I'm not genius, clever, and smart, but the only one I can do is to repeat. Every one can do this stuff even 2 year old baby!!!

Many Korean people translate English into Korean to remember the meaning. It's a waste of time!! Think about it. What did you learn with when you learned Korean?? Does it make sense now??? Just see, listen, feel, and speak!!! Does it take a long time? After six months, You might be speaking English fluently although you have never been to any other countries in which the people speak English. You can think something directly in English. Trust me. It works.

Here are some examples in my room.

English part of my walls

I read them once every day before leaving to work, but these days.....ah...

Spanish part with my family picture

They work particularly with paintings

You can repeat a word drawing the painting

They look like that I'm showing off my work, but that is not true. (Just a little bit^^)

It's so important to find your own way. The situation that many people in Korea can not speak well makes me upset even though the government has invested numerous money.

So.....How was it??? Write some comments after read this , fix what I wrote incorrectly please.

The confusion

2009-01-10T07:04:00.001-08:00

This week, I feel that I've grown up more mentally. I can not explain this situation, but there is only one I realized " Talk " I always try to be sensitive around my people so that I can make their emotion better even though they don't care about it. But I think I might never read women's mind. Trying to be nice to them, sometimes it make them misunderstand or angry.

What's the problem with me?? What should I do?? There was no answer. My one of the worst habit was to think too much. Still struggle to have many things simple, but the life doesn't allow me to be easy. On the contrary if I found the answer, I would be "Talk" I think it's not bad to show someone what I have wanted to hide for a long time. Actually I still feel weird when I reveal some of it to someone, but I realized that it could be the strongest way to appeal someone in a positive circumstance.

so.....Let's TALK!!!

The weekday off

2009-01-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

I was so excited last night 'cause James gave me his old guitar which looked expensive, and I took lesson with him. " 12 bar E-blues with an acoustic guitar" It was awesome & awesome!!!!

You know what??? Men should play an instrument for their life and their women. Music makes us happy at all. Ah..... I can not control my mind now.^^

In the morning I was waiting for Mark to go to Yong-san for some electric products. : Extra HDD drive, Cables, Converter, and Nick's camera. It's been a long time to get there since I quit the job in the store there. I hated the boss, who didn't allow me to quit for the military service. Eventually he took some of my salary back. It was.....100,000 won..I think.

Traffic jam on the street I pass everyday.

I hate cars...The air pollution maker in Seoul.

look so peaceful now.

It was pay day today. So I felt like buying a lap-top when I was looking around, but Mark saved me from the attractive stores.(But unfortunately I got 950.000 won for a month Damn it!!!!)

In Namdaemun market I had some food for my starving stomach looking around. Should have checked the prices more, but I think It was a good deal. Even Mark was a professional negotiator. I am terrible at dealing. Well...I just went for translating...I wish haha.

After saying good-bye to Mark, went back home, practiced the guitar, took a nap for 3 hours. I prefer weekday off to weekend off ' cause I can do something in silence and I can have time to think about something interesting alone.

These days I drink a lot although I get drunken fast with Just 2 shot of So-ju!! Should be more thrifty than before. I won't spend my money on weekdays anymore.

In the evening went to Suk-ke for my favorite food " Sam kup sal " I didn't talk much, just concentrate on eating. Some accused me of my action, some had fun with it, but I didn't care and

I kept chewing again and again. Afterward I bought them some ice cream. Especially...the strawberry one made me crazy. I love it!! My best one!!

Ah...It's 1 : 50 AM now. I'm not tired yet. ....Ah... Yes I feel tired now. Should go to bed now.

Charlie Brown

2008-12-20T03:46:00.001-08:00

I was in a bad luck today. Hit my nose on the street lamp directly. It hurt, became bigger , and everybody was worried about it. I Thought that It had been broken again, but it looked not.

In a class I saw a cartoon "Charlie Brown" I remember that I enjoyed it with a Korean edition when I was a child. Especially I liked Snoopy "The crazy dog"
In the movie, Charlie wasn't happy like me even though Christmas had come.
He looked for something interesting for Christmas. Lisa offered him a director of the Christmas play in a auditorium, but Every friend of his didn't listen to him.
He was so disappointed. He thought about the meaning of Christmas again, and then Linus showed him his monologue which had many meaningful words.

This movie is not for children. Every adult has to see it again. Particularly the piano music is awesome. I think I know the player, but don't remember now.

There is a final part of this chapter. Let's enjoy again!

The end of my great week

2008-12-14T03:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah...... eventually, It's done. I want this situation to keep on, but it's time to finish the vacation of my mind. But how???? haha... Never mind.

At the night on Friday, before getting to Penelope, I was so excited to have my birthday party though I made a lot of mistakes at work. There are many difference between Korean and western people, I think that the celebration is the same.

Actually, I didn't expected that many people came to my party because I have not had my birthdays like this. I was so happy to hear friends' bless. Deliberately I drank a small bottle of conditioner( they called it "conditioner") first, and drank as much as I can. And then did the rabbit dance everybody wanted to see.

We went to a Karaoke room after having a great time in Penelope. I sang, did the dance like that I was a crazy man. I did every thing I hadn't been able to do before because of many of the korean eyes. I mean that In my society, I can not express what I want to much. when I do something weird they dont like, they ignore me after then. That is one of why I hate this society.

In the other hand, Foreign friends of mine accept me as what I am. I love this culture. I'm just different, but I'm not wrong. Everybody should know this fact.

Finally, went to Dragon Bar for drinking more , and playing Dart game. I didn't do well, but my patner Claudia was so professional. We won the game easily. Drank more beer talking with Heather, and listening to the music I requested. Perhaps we left the bar at 3:00 AM.

It was so fantastic!!! I don't want to forget the moment. Whan can I make a good memories like that?? I hope that It would be soon.

Well.... Today I finished a book" The witch of Portobello". A sentence I could remember was "Love simplely is" It was about love. The author makes me be disappointed these days. I know what love is ,or not. I know that everyone has their own definition about it.

But I feel satisfied by finishing this book even though I didn't understand the whole words.

Should prepare something now for tomorrow.

Miércoles, 10 de Diciembre (Español)

2008-12-11T05:56:00.000-08:00

Todas las cosas estuvieron mal en mi trabajo sin ninguna razón.

¿Cuál es mi problema? Me vuelvo loco. Pienso que yo me enojo con algo.

¿Necesito descansar por largo timepo? No estoy de acuerdo conmigo.

Por eso, tome una botella de cerveza solo en un bar. La cerveza negra es la que siempre me gusta tomar.

El viernes tengo que tomar muchas botellas de cerbeza con mis amigos.

¡Salud!

Martes, 9 de Diciembre (Español)

2008-12-09T05:57:00.001-08:00

No es buena esta semana. Los huérfanos vinieron otra vez.

Todos los profesores gritaron juntos. El fin de semana pasado hubieron muchas cosas que no entendi. El Domingo pasado tuve que llevar algunos niños a mi trabajo.

¡ Ese dia era para descansar!

No soy pesimista, pero en este caso deseo enojrme una vez.

Mi cumpleaños es el Viernes de esta semana. Pienso que tengo que hacer algo especial.

Return of the you-know-who

2008-12-08T05:46:00.000-08:00

It was not a good start this week. I had to spend a long time for picking up the kids to work. Could earn more money, but needed to releave my stress on every weekend. Perhaps I might lose my temper by this weekend. It's my birthday week!!!

There weren't much teams this week, but an unexpected group came to kill S.E.V. people. Everyone in S.E.V. knows who they are..... The orphans....who are out of control... Last time some kids made teachers cry, shout, lose their temper or tired. Once a teacher cried on her birthday, another one shouted at a staff a lot of "F" words losing her temper. Yes.. they are so scary, horrible, terrible, hostile, and cranky that I can't explain to you.

Besides, a new more terrible group came to support them. The new kids from Busan..even they don't speak standard Korean. Some teachers had classes with them, and their reponse weren't as good as I expected. God bless you!!!!!

well... I have a lot to do.... first to go sleep....I'm nodding..

A daily of Korean guys

2008-12-06T21:05:00.000-08:00

Well.... I needed to hang out somewhere I wanted to go. Yesterday went to Sin-chon to meet some of my best friends Sung-Jin, Sol-jae. We lived closely to each other in a village before, but it's uncomfortable to play together these days.

In Sin-chon we went to a billiard room first. We don't play computer games.(I used to play^^) In a billiard room we're not friends anymore. we love competition, so every player sometimes disturbs the opponents' turns with keep talking , moving their bodies fast before a player. Actually we don't do that because we've grown well.^^

Sung-jin pretending to be professional.

Me(Bill or Jong-duk)Always having a beautiful form
Sol-jae who is awful at this stuff

After this game. went to a restaurant for dinner. we don't get western food well.
During the dinner we talked about some crazy Korean girls who like to buy, to have western things though they can not afford them. they're called " Soy bean paste girl" Unfortunately, my sister likes that.... Oh......Damn..

And then we went to Hong-dae for drink. There was a bar that sold bottles of beer of many countries in cheap price. I wanted to taste Guinness Original, but it tasted the same as Korean dark beer. we drank many kind of beer talking about our future, girls, economy, policies we hate, plans, and sports.

Finally we said good-bye to go home. we are so far to each other, but we don't feel pleased whenever we met because we are always used to each other for a long time, and we trust each other strongly.

Well.....so..That's all. I feel nothing now..I just wanted to write this in English.

I have to go Kwang-ju to bring the children to my work. The officers are insane, but I don't have any chance to complain in this society.

Empty heart

2008-12-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

I'm still learning English, and need to write some articles.

Whenever I see my articles, I feel that they are so childish. But It's OK. I believe in that I might be better soon.

After work, I had a shrimp burger with my collegues first in Lotteria. I expected that I could have fun, but there was a problem next to our table.

I don't know how to call them in English, I want to call them "High School Gang". There were some boys and girls, they were swearing(or cursing)to each other.

The voices were so loud, I could't enjoy my burger. One of my collegues wanted to make them
stop shouting, I had to calm him down though I felt like hitting them. They were just students.
We didn't need to have some trouble with them. Fortunetely, they had gone soon. but I thought
that I would not come there again.

Afterward, went to "Penelope" for drinking some beer with teachers in S. E. V. It was nice except I saw my boss whom I don't want to meet there. He knew that I did not drink, and asked
"Did you drink???" I got rooted the spot, had to think of something brilliant and smart. But God was on my side. There was a glass of water with some ice on my table so that I could say " NO, I didn't" Well.... Anyway he had gone home. I was so lucky. Yeah I was.

These days I feel empty though I don't know the reason. Just want to spend some money for my hobbies. Two days ago, I decided to buy a net book which is smaller than a lap-top. But I got to consider of that. What is the most important assignment of my life now?? The answer is simple.
Studying abroad. that's it!! so I have to save my money for the tuition. Maybe it's the second obstacle of my life. First, Military service... I came over it. Now It's 2nd round of the ring. Go for it Bill!!! Always be optimistic!!!

My birthday and Christmas are coming. Should prepare something special for everybody.