Protected: Year in Review: “Brandon” Byung-hyu Na

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

An update on life these days in Busan…

Sorry for the lack of activity lately. Been quite busy with the radio station gig, classes at Korea Maritime University and my private English lessons. The University also asked me to do an extra high school class this month making it even more busy recently.

Well, here’s something a little fun. If you’re interested in some new songs and possibly wanting to know what I listen to a bit these days, check out the Play List on my radio show here. The last song is usually called “Brandon’s Choice” and I usually try to play a song that I like or is upbeat. Sometimes it’s to make a point, but I aim for the entertaining. I do lean toward Hip Hop to be frank or K-pop like beats with the emphasis on songs that are relatively popular, just fyi. I like country and a few other genres once in a while.

AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES NEWSLETTER in South Korea OCTOBER 2009

U.S. State Department, U.S. Embassy Seoul
Consular Section, American Citizen Services (ACS) Newsletter
OCTOBER 2009

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following monthly newsletter via its warden system as a public service to U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please disseminate this message broadly to other U.S. citizens.

In this issue:

1. Introduction of new American Citizens Services Chief, Buck Waldrop
2. Online Passport Form Wizard makes applications a breeze!
3. Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Influenza Information
4. A Message to American Communities and Organizations in Korea
5. Recent Travel Warnings and Alerts
6. Upcoming Embassy Holidays: October 12, 2009 (Columbus Day)
7. Embassy Contact Information

No, I’m really in love…

OK, just kidding again.

By the time you read this, I may be the proud owner of a Yamaha FZ6. I still own my other bike I got a number of months ago, the 1994 Suzuki Impulse, but I don’t know how much longer I’ll keep it. I have a few buyers who are looking at it with my Suzuki Impulse ad on craigslist.

However, I couldn’t pass up this Yamaha and think I’ll be o.k. with the finances as long as I keep building up my income. Plus, I really wanted something that will get through the winter more comfortably given that the Suzuki did have some starter issues a long time ago. At the same time, the starter issues went away after I got the rocket battery and so that’s why I’m contemplating keeping onto the bike as well. The bike is a bit nice looking, in my opinion and a classic look that almost makes me feel like it’s a better looking bike than most. If I do put some money into it and a little more TLC, I think ti may be a classic in the long run.

For now, I’ll be putting a bit of focus into my new FZ6 which wikipedia says is a 600 cc motorcycle that was introduced in 2004 as a sporting middleweight sport bike built around the 2003 YZF R6 engine. The engine is retuned for more usable midrange power. It comes with a somewhat soft suspension. It is very well suited for sport-touring, commuting, or just having fun on curvy mountain roads. So, this should be perfect for commuting to my new University job at the Korea Maritime University.

I almost decided not to buy this after seeing this Yamaha Fazer review on Motorcyclist Online, but after a number of factors and consulting with my great coworker Matthew, I went ahead and decided to get it.

There’s also this FZ6 forum I’m going to have to take advantage of hopefully soon so that I can learn more about it.

I have no idea if I’ll ever get it to 200 kph like this video shows when comparing it to a Ducati 749, but I’m quite impressed at how strong this bike may be.

Hagwon Advice…

I’ve been around the (Korean) block a few times…

More specifically, I’ve been in the English as a Foreign Language (and as CDI or Chungdahm Learning likes to call it their patented ESL programs) industry for more than five years in Korea.  I get questions constantly about how to enter the industry, who to choose for work and honestly what to do if interested in this field if you want work.

Well, I just got another question (or should I say set of questions) asked of me about work here in Korea as an English teacher.  Instead of just answering this gentleman directly and minimizing the impact, I thought I’d write it up here so a few more can read and hopefully benefit from my advice.  In addition to reading the following, you can also read my piece called “Advice for Teachers” (they titled it that way even though I didn’t) which should actually be named “Advice for ‘Prospective’ English Teachers (in Korea).”

The guy asks:

“Live from Busan, South Korea, it’s…”

Some of you already know, but I’ve accepted a job as the Evening Host of Busan’s English Radio station eFM.   The station is at 90.5 on the FM dial and the website is http://befm.co.kr (where you can also listen off the Internet).

I’ll be starting on Monday, July 6th (2009). It’s definitely not something I had planned on doing for this juncture in life, but it’s a welcome change to the relatively stressful life that I was living the past 3 years with Chungdahm Learning (in the Busan region). I may blog about my time at Injoong Education (the parent company of the Busan+ branches of Chungdahm Learning & April English), but that will take a bit of time to write…

I’m looking incredibly forward to this experience and thus far, I’ve learned:

• I have some REALLY cool coworkers like my sweet & awesome Producer Hana Jo and stylish and kewl writer Ji-wook.  Other cool foreign coworkers like Matthew, Petra and Dennis also prove I’m simply lucky in finding quality coworkers.  Sohee & Haejin along with our cool Team Leader Mikyung also make the days extra special and of course our Executive Director Mr. Koo (General Manager) as well who seems very cool for Korean management.

More motorcycle issues (possibly resolved?)

This is honestly just for my own record keeping, but after visiting a local bike shop near Pusan National University, the shop owner told me that the regulator was the problem. He even said he’ll bet on it and will give it to me for free for now & if it helps start the engine consistently for more than the 2 weeks maximum the starter seemed to work without a battery recharge that I go and pay only and only if it works beyond 2 weeks. So far, so good…but it’s only been 2 or so days.

Talk about sh*t hitting the fan…

If you liked the post, y not bookmark it by clicking any of the below icons:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Is it me?  Or did I just land in the country most well known for “drama?”  

Just visited my great friend Derek at his wedding in Hawaii with the beautiful bride Bonnie and great friends.  It was seriously a beautiful wedding. Here’s the couple dancing to “Bella’s Lullaby” played by you would think a professional piano player, but rather by their niece “Rachel” who is AMAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZING!!!! (think of Will Ferrell yelling this like he did at the Harvard Commencement speech).

Tough little Korean Kid Rob Cho by Will Ferrell

Actually, Will Ferrell in his typical great impersonation of some random character reminds us how Football coaches appear to everyone.  He preceded Ronnie Lott in the Lott Trophy presentation I think in 2006?  He also mentions there’s another “tough kid”, Rob Cho’s Korean brother “Rick Cho….”  Ha!

I think it’s somehwhere around 1:35 he starts joking about the Cho’s. He of course stick’s with the “cho” theme and starts blurtin out stuff about Na-cho’s which in High School I was made fun of a bit by my debating team members when one of the partners I had at the time was Susie Cho. We were called Nacho by this annoying classmate Marty McGuirk.

Six letters. Many combinations. Possibly the cure to all the world’s problems.

If you liked the post, y not bookmark it by clicking any of the below icons:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Six letters.

Many combinations.

Possibly the cure to all the world’s problems.

In Korea, this one word makes or breaks peoples’ lives. Without these, many go homeless. With these, many have a roof over their head. For many foreigners or expatriates who date Korean women, it’s our biggest hurdle in getting to know them. However, after we get to know them, our bonds can be tighter than superglue with the Korean women we might love.

Like I said in my other online project, these 25 Things about me lists are getting around…

Save this for later viewing/reading:

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

…and I’ve succombed to the pressure.  Actually, I just enjoyed reading my friends’ lists and so I thought I would partake and hope I get to read more from other friends.  Too bad I can only tag 25 friends.  I’d like to ask to see more from more friends.  Oh well…

Here’s mine for now: 

1. Building lists of 25 things is very painful for me. I like lists of 10…

2. My nickname was “Peenya” when I was a little kid. I took on the name while visiting a group of kids across the tracks in my Uncle’s neighborhood. I still don’t know ’til this day why I picked Peenya.

3. My brother stole my car for an hour each day to go on a joy ride with his best friend at the time while I took naps after coming home from college. The police eventually caught him and woke me up from one of those infamous hour long naps. After they asked me do I know a “Jim Na”, I laughed out loud like an evil dictator and looked very forward to exposing the kid everyone in the city thought was an angel.

4. I can type pretty fast — to be exact, I type over a 100 words a minute unless I’m typing on a lame keyboard like the one I’m using right now.

5. From birth, all I wanted to do in life was make other people smile. When people asked me the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I always thought about this desire first.

Sonyuhshidae (Girls’ Generation) wishes all of you a Happy Seollnal (Lunar’s New Years) & Saehae bok manhi badeuseyo

Save this post for later viewing:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Sonyuhshidae in Hanboks

A real update to my life

Add this blog to your favorites:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Bike crash photo

Most days, I don’t feel this is a REAL personal blog — writing about my life and about me.  The posts here are usually about what I’m thinking or what others are thinking & I find interesting.  However, I thought I’d write a tad about ME today…

Why all of a sudden?  Well, I just got the wind knocked out of me riding down the driveway of my building’s parking lot.  I thought to myself “Who in this world right now cares?”  Fortunately, the nice security guard/parking lot attendant came to my rescue and tried to help me.  After catching my breath, checking my leg to see if I was gushing out blood and if I could stand straight up despite what it felt to be a puncture into my rib cage, I told him I was o.k.  The point is that when things like this happen in our life, who ends up hearing about it?  Well, if we’re humble, very few learn about it.  Instead, you want your friends and family to at least hear about your well being.  So, I want the people who care to read about it now. 

Overlooked work opportunity?

Add this blog to your favorites:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Free flights, Free housing and Easy work conditions?

 

Sounds like an advertisement from a con artist, doesn’t it?  However, most of it’s true and tens of thousands of Americans, Canadians, Australians and other native English speaking citizens can give you living proof that it’s a fact.  Not only are many doing it every day, but many are also saving, paying off student loans and literally building more financial wealth than they could back home. Moreover, the friendships made, the contacts added to one’s rolodex and the overall experience has given many justification in coming back (and in many cases making a career of it). 

Film festivals galore (in Korea)

korean film festivals

From Puchon to Jeonju.  From Seoul down to Busan, you’ll have plenty of flicks to keep you busy and hopefully entertained this summer.