English teacher Craig Markley 'reports' from Seoul

36-year-old Craig Markley, an outgoing guy who's been an English teacher in Seoul for over 3 years, was born and raised in the great city of Chicago, majored in journalism and worked in Los Angeles, California, at a public relations firm where he did hi-tech PR and Microsoft. Then, eventually, when he got bored with his other major job in banking where he worked for one of the largest Beverly Hills banks, he got clued into the opportunity of becoming a teacher in South Korea.

After learning about his interesting background and personality, it's easy to see that Craig is no ordinary teacher here. In 2008, Craig created his YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/craigcmarkley) and has, since then, shared on there his amazing experiences in Korea, interviews with his fun Korean girlfriend Min Jung and has shown he has a selfless goal to help improve the lives of other expats (especially teachers) who come to Korea to have a great time or even build a future here. This is especially true for newcomers!

       Me and Craig at a chicken place in Hongdae, Seoul, in February this year, when I met him in person. -- I ran into one of Craig's videos on YouTube last year and was captivated by his selfless personality, the various topics covered by the videos, and his interesting transparent approach to amateur documentary filmmaking.

Craig's handycam resembles a handgun (hilarious), which allows him to shoot with one hand and point it easily and steadily to wherever he wants to. He just quickly edits his videos on the camera and posts them on his channel, no formalities. What will grab your attention right away is the smart (funny, at times) things he says, the interesting places he goes to, his cross-cultural experience with his Korean girlfriend and Korean friends, and his visible excitement about sharing his adventures with other teachers and newcomers.

Craig reports from the KBS Performing Arts Hall, Seoul, on RENT - The Broadway Tour, September, 2009 (Craig's video I ran into last year):



To me, what Craig has been doing with his YouTube channel is a model to be followed by all the other teachers who come to this fascinating land to teach a foreign language, enrich their lives and the lives of others - sometimes even more than their own.

Craig and I meet for the first time - Hongdae, Seoul, Feb. 2010 (next two videos):
--I also have a YouTube channel:  
www.youtube.com/user/agathamaia1
Nothing compared to Craig's, though :)

The Vagina Monologues rock multinational audiences in Jinju

The second production of The Vagina Monologues in Jinju City featured two Korean women (!) among a foreign cast and amazed people from various nationalities on the event's both nights -- 04/23 & 24

Second production, in Jinju?? 

That's right! This was Jinju's second time performing The VMs (click to see previous post with ad). Last year, the show was performed at SoundGarden bar in Gajwa-dong, outside the back gate of Gyeongsang National University (GNU). This year's organizer and cast member Jess Anderson also performed in last year's show and told me "it was a wonderfully intimate show since SoundGarden's capacity is about 70 people."
 

This year, however, The VMs were held in a theater downtown Jinju called Hyunjang Arts Hall, with 150 seats each night, which means they were able to raise more money for the three organizations the event donates to --10% goes to the Congo (more information at vday.org), and the other 90% is split between the Jinju YWCA and the Jinju Women's Shelter. Two Korean women took part in the show this year and did an outstanding job, performing in both English and in some Korean. Last year's show featured only one Korean actor. The truth is that it is a pretty big deal for a Korean girl or woman to take part in such a mature and sexual event held in Korea, especially in a small conservative town like Jinju. You can tell by how hard it can be to just get them, Korean girls, to simply come see the show. They will usually look at you shocked that you even invited.           

  This year's cast: Jess Anderson on the far right corner and the two Korean women on the front (one all in black and the other all in red)  

Differently from last year, this year's show had Korean subtitles, so a lot more people were able to truly enjoy the show and understand every bit of what was going on.  

Donna Corns, who is now back home in South Africa, organized last year's show along with a group of women from GNU. Most of the cast last year worked at the English Only Zone, at GNU, and all of them worked very closely in the organization of the show and the fundraisers leading to the show. Many women in Jinju were then invited to join the show, and that was when Jess, this year's organizer, decided to take part.    

Watch a bit of The VMs' Saturday show:  

 CR Dobson, the show's director, opened up: "It was a very rewarding experience!" 

The next day, CR posted the following on his Facebook: "I couldn't have done anything without Jess, my partner in crime", thanking his friend and co-director/organizer of the show Jess Anderson.  

Directors CR Dobson and Jess Anderson being honored by the cast at the end of the show.  

Now, I leave you with some more cool shots I took of Saturday's show. Enjoy ;)  

I like this one :)

I know - I had to take these two!!

Jinju Vagina Monologues 2010

The Vagina Monologues have come to the Southern Korean city of Jinju for the second time and promise to delight and impact multinational audiences in a can't-miss two-night-performance event.

American Jess Anderson, who teaches English in Jinju, is organizing the event.

Jess posted the following on the Jinju Vagina Monologues 2010 Facebook group page she created:

"The Vagina Monologues is a series of stories about women. Each story describes a woman's experience that has significantly changed her life. The goal of the monologues is to stop violence against women and girls by speaking frankly and openly about things they go through ALL OVER THE WORLD. Some of the monologues represent women who don't know their bodies in an intimate way or who are ashamed of their bodies. Others describe events where women were abused or violently attacked.

The show can be difficult to watch at times and heartwarming at others. It will bring tears to your eyes. At moments it is funny and sometimes innocent, but it is always empowering.

Although the show is about women, it is enjoyable to men as well. We feel that this show will give men a better understanding of women's feelings and needs. We encourage men to join this celebration of womanhood, because it opens a window into women's lives unlike ever before.

Eve Ensler wrote the first draft of the monologues in 1996 after she interviewed 200 women about their views on sex, relationships, and violence against women.

The Vagina Monologues raises money to go towards women's anti-violence groups and women's support groups. Each year between February 1 and April 30 these shows are put on around the world in order to raise awareness and support.

This year, Jinju's production of The Vagina Monolgues will donate funds to the YWCA's women's group, the Jinju women's shelter, and 10% of funds raised will go toward the women of the Congo. Any contributions are welcome and appreciated!"

Way to go, Jess! I'm there!

Although English may be the show's official language (**note that there will be Korean subtitles**), I truly hope that many Koreans (women and men) become interested in enriching their sexual and personal lives, broadening their global perspective on the matter along with meeting some real cool people from all parts of the globe!

Jinju Vagina Monologues 2010:

Night 1: Friday 4/23 at 10:30 p.m.
Night 2: Saturday 4/24 at 7:30 p.m. 
Venue: Hyunjang Arts Hall - www.hjarthall.com 
(Near Zio Ricco's, above the Northface athletic store, downtown Jinju)
Tickets 10,000 won

Contact Jess Anderson for more info: vdayjinju2010@gmail.com
---------------------

Check out The Vagina Monologues (V-Day) official Web site: www.vday.org

Exhibition brings the rainforest to Seoul

The internationally famous exhibition Amazônia in Seoul, supported by Petrobras (Brazil's oil company) and the Brazilian Government, has been giving a tropical feeling to Seoul's coldest season since the 12th of last month -- ending this upcoming Friday the 12th.

Amazônia in Seoul is exotic, just like the country where it comes from. The exhibition includes not only photographs of and videos on the rainforest that has the largest concentration of biodiversity in the world, but also a fascinating display of some unique Amazonian handicrafts and tribal costumes as well as another one of mostly vibrant colored seeds found in the rainforest -- lots and lots of seeds.

To be able to see Koreans having this kind of intimate contact with what to them is so strange and different -- that it's almost as if it all had landed in Seoul from another planet -- gives me enormous pleasure as a Brazilian living in Korea.

                         Display of Amazonian handicrafts.

 

Korean Im Sue-Yeon, an English Education major at Sogang University's Graduate School, was amazed by the exhibition. "What a unique experience! I never saw anything like this and didn't know much about the Amazon before coming here", she shared. "Oh, I like touching these seeds - they feel funny", she added with a shy laugh.

Red Tento seeds: Largely used for making handmade jewellery.

 

Açaí seeds: Some of Brazil's most popular seeds.

Now, check out these other shots I managed to take at the exhibition:

At Seoul Art Center - Gongpyeong Gallery

-- Near Insadong.

Tel. +82-(0)2- 3210-0071

An unusual documentary on North Korea

              Google Images

 City Center, Pyongyang. Barely anyone in the street.

Little is known (and in this case, it could actually mean you know "a lot") about what goes on on the other side of the DMZ border, where an entire nation is 100% ruled by one man, Kim Jong-il. It was driven by the idea of getting into North Korea and showing the world one of the insidest looks one could probably ever get at this mysterious isolated country, that Brooklyn-based VICE and VBS.TV founder Shane Smith, together with 15 other journalists, managed to get a tourist visa to enter NK in 2008 -- after having struggled for a year and a half to get it -- to now be able to share his experience with us.

Divided into 14 episodes, the documentary named 'The VICE Guide to North Korea' takes you on the freakiest journey you'll ever experience. "Perhaps the weirdest thing about North Koreans is that they genuinely don't seem to know that the rest of the planet hates and fears them", says Shane. The VBS founder also says that "being there was like being nowhere else on the planet."

Living here in South Korea, such an open and modern country, already feels a bit weird at times, as people's behavior, way of thinking and customs here are completely different from the ones in the western world. Therefore, I can sort of imagine how odd life must be across the border. I have met a few foreigners here who have gone to NK on package tours which are ridiculously expensive and you must go to China first. However, that's a trip I cannot wait to go on someday!

Now, watch part 1 of the documentary that CNN described on their web site as one that reflects "a very transparent approach to journalism, where viewers are taken along on every step of the reporting process."



For all the other episodes of The VICE Guide to North Korea, visit www.vbs.tv/newsroom
This interesting reporting approach is definitely worthy of watching till the last minute of the last episode. So, toughen up if you have to and try and enjoy the ride!
-------------------------
To read what Shane Smith wrote about his crew's bizarre trip to North Korea published on CNN's web site on February 10th, 2010, click here.

------------------------------------
VICE is an independent media company and web site based in Brooklyn, New York. VBS.TV is Vice's broadband television network.

Beautiful Geoje Island: fresh air, exotic beaches, mountains and... two of the world's largest shipyards!

Once (not long ago) known as 'Koje', before the new romanization system of the Korean language kicked in, the island -- which is the principal island of Geoje City, on the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do province -- is famous for being home of the world's 2nd and 3rd largest shipyards: Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in Gohyeon and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Okpo, respectively. I first visited the shipyards back in the Korean summer of 2002 when I was in the city visiting my father who was working at DSME at the time -- now he works at Hyundai Heavy Industries (the world's largest, in Ulsan City). I was amazed by the magnitude of the shipbuilders, and I just saw a little bit of each one. I had never seen such huge ships in my life, I mean they are freaking huge! You'll see hundreds of people driving, cycling and scootering around to get to places like in no other foreign shipyard, that's for sure. When it's time to get off work, at about 5 or 6pm, hundreds of men on scooters pretty much take over the streets around the shipyards, which scarily shows how the city and country's economic growth has long depended on their heavy industries.

Check out these pictures I took of the shipyards just last year:

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI):

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME):

Geoje Island -- or Geojedo (거제도), 'do'(도) means 'island' in Korean -- is the second largest island in South Korea (second to Jeju Island) and is filled with foreigners everywhere you look. Most of them obviously work at the monstruous shipyards or are visiting the ones who do. I like it how you can see so many foreign kids, of completely different backgrounds and cultures, playing and interacting with each other as well as with Korean kids, even though their English (any of the kids') might be poor or they might not speak it at all! I remember how my little Brazilian sister, who was just 5 years old back in 2002 when we were there visiting our dad, would make friends with other kids, Korean and foreign, in a heartbeat. She once brought this shy Korean girl (about her age) to my dad's apartment to introduce her to us. I remember my sister going like (in Portuguese): "people, this is my new friend! She can speak English! Listen!" She turns over to the girl and asks the only question my sister actually knew in English, "what's your name?", and the girl promptly replied! Haha. We were absolutely delighted.

For a long time, my memories of Korea were mostly of Geoje Island... Some beautiful memories that  eventually brought me back to this amazing country, not to visit, but to live here. So, here I am.

I leave you with some more pics I recently took of beautiful Geoje. Enjoy.

In the center of the picture is London Pub, a good time on any night.

PS. HAPPY 2010 YA'LL! :)

I couldn't miss this little Korean boy posing for a picture by this huge 2010 ice sculpture outside Hyundai Department Store, in Ulsan City. :)

The two COOLEST bars in Cheongju city!

Road King and MJ - if you're looking for a good time in Cheongju, these two names are all you need to know

Road King and MJ are in the hearts of each and every foreigner living in Cheongju, who are mostly adventurous English teachers. Of course there should be a few exceptions, since I don't know each and every foreigner living there, but still, if you get to go to both or either one of them a few times, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Before moving to Jinju, I lived in Cheongju for a whole year and these two wonderful Korean-owned foreign bars became my "everybody-knows-your-name" hangouts and the owners obviously became good friends of mine. Always thoughtful and kind to all their customers, Seung Woo (Road King) and Wonjae (MJ) are the coolest bar owners you'll ever meet in this country. They sure know how to get the fun started. 

Something really cool about these bars' location: Road King and MJ are actually located right next to each other, in the Chungbuk University area! So, you can pretty much jump back and forth as much as you like - it's great fun. I love these bars so much that at least once a month I try to take the 3-hour bus ride all the way there just to hang out with my Cheongju friends at the two coolest bars in the city and definitely two of the very coolest in Korea!

Now, check out these cool photos I took at two very busy nights at the bars:

ROAD KING - HALLOWEEN PARTY 2009:

-- MJ also threw a kick-ass halloween party, as always, but it was the night before this one, when I unfortunately couldn't come :(

  

 

 

 

 

                  The Road 'King': Seung Woo :)

Now, here's a video I made for you to see how this party rocked!

- Road King's owner Seung Woo is on Facebook: Road King

MJ - MY BIRTHDAY PARTY, NOV. 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

These are The Radio Grifters, from Texas! Check them out: myspace.com/theradiogrifters

 

    MJ's awesome owner: Wonjae

- MJ Bar's Facebook group: MJ Bar

- MJ's owner Wonjae is also on Facebook: Cobra Lee 

LATEST: American singer SHAY BAILIFF freaking played at my b-day party at MJ Bar this year!

 

Here's a video I made of Shay playing The Galway Girl at my party - Dec 5, 2009:

Party shots:

                    Shay Bailiff, everyone!

Me and Shay :) Yay

              Friend Liz dancing to Shay's sound

 

PS. This was Shay's first performance in Cheongju city - but definitely not his last!

-- Shay lives in Seoul.