Swine Flu

Broken 1,000 won Thermometer

Spring semester just ended and the following Monday, the Summer term will start. When I walked in that Monday, I had no desire to teach. I was exhausted from the previous term and just needed one more day...

Last week's group of new Chungdahm (CDI) trainees had a trainee from the US infected with Swine Flu. Two of the trainers (Jared & Andy) were in direct contact with the trainee with Swine Flu. Jared & Andy work at my branch, therefore could have infected us. The trainees and Jared & Andy (my co-workers) are in quarantine. This could be VERY costly to the company, so CDI has decided to be public about it rather than be shady and have a student find out and spread the news to his/her parent and cause mass chaos. In response to the Swine Flu scare, CDI has let all of its instructors off for 9 days. Monday the 26th to June 3rd. The reason is because Swine Flu does not take into effect until 7-9 days from exposure. This could be a never ending cycle if people keep getting exposure, therefore we don't work because we don't want to infect the students. CDI is estimated to lose $6million dollars! Apparently the Swine Flu news has been all over the media yet without mention of CDI. Nevertheless, the public seems to know that it is CDI with infected instructors and other academies are nervous about the monetary, student enrollment, news exposure effects of Swine Flu because they too hire foreigners to teach in Korea.

Thank goodness we are getting paid in full without working. However, they demand that we stay in our homes with limited social interaction. To get paid, we must send our manager daily temperature checks twice a day (normal is under 37 degrees Celsius).

When we received the news, most of us were already at work. There was a slight rumor of cancelled classes that day. Around 2:30pm, our FM announces that we would be off and paid for 9 days. In a frenzy, I started looking up flights to Thailand. I was not going to let this opportunity go to waste. Unfortunately, the company declared that we stay in country. That's when we decided to go to TGIFridays and celebrate spending unearned money.

Nowon Crew Enjoying Quarantine

As we celebrated no working and getting paid, we received a string of emails from Chungdahm HR concerning quarantine.

- You must buy a thermometer...CDI will reimburse you. You must take your temperature every morning and evening and email me the results.

- You may not leave the country.

In conjunction with the Korean Center for Disease Control and the Korean National Ministry of Health, CHUNGDAHM Institute will be closing down until June 2 in order to prevent a possible Swine Influenza epidemic and spread to our students. Classes will resume June 3.

l All instructors stay at their home and limit social interaction to a minimum until June 2. Classes will resume on June 3. The swine influenza virus takes 7 to 9 days until symptoms surface. Even if you do not demonstrate any flu like symptoms, it is imperative that you stay home and limit social interaction to a bare minimum. All learning centers will honor instructor contracts and provide the minimum payment according to the instructor contracts.
l All instructors purchase thermometers, measure their body temperature twice per day (once at 10am and once at 5pm), and report the results to their BM or FM ? all branch and franchises will reimburse their instructors for the thermometers, and HQ will reimburse each branch and franchise with the submission of receipts.
l All BM’s report their 10am and 5pm temperature measurements to HQ (temperature@chungdahm.com) including branch/franchise location, date, time, the names of each instructor and their temperature.
l If any teacher suspects symptoms of SI, do NOT travel to a hospital, the learning center, or the CDC. Instead, be sure to report the temperature to the BM/FM as described above. The CDC will contact you within the next 24 hours.

CHUNGDAHM thanks all instructors in advance for their cooperation in order to prevent our students from infection and a potential national epidemic.

In other words, send temperatures daily and don't leave the country.

Taking Our Temperature: Normal is 38 Degrees Celsius
Me & Dave

Hiking to Plan Our Next 9 Days of Quarantine
Lonely Planet Korea, Tuna Brushetta, Baguette, & Water

Namsan Tower
The Highest Point in Seoul

Jumping for Quarantine Joy at Namsan Tower

So, my friends and I decided to make the most of our quarantine because this long period of paid vacation will never happen again. Where should we go?

Canadian Obsession: Poutine

Little did I know that some of the most common foreigners in Korea are Canadians. It was no surprise that some of my best friends and co-workers are Canadians. Being a foreigner, you often share stories of home discussing especially the things you miss the most. For me, it was Cafe Del Rio (cheap dirty Mexican food in Lufkin), a pizza slice from Pugsley's in the Bronx, or even simple delights such as olives, cheese, and Triscuits. My friends John and Dave missed poutine.

Poutine is a dish consisting of french fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients. (Wikipedia.org)

At first, this sounded disgusting. I am used to fries, cheese fries, even chili cheese fries. Gravy is supposed to go on mashed potatoes. Furthermore, what the heck is a cheese curd?! I can't lie though. My friend Teresa, from the cheese state of Wisconsin, often spoke of cheese curds like a fine wine. Anyhow, as a true traveler, I am open-minded to trying new things especially since my good friends sing poutine's praises.

New York Fries Poutine (Smallest & Largest Sizes)
*Note: Not a New York Based Company--It's Canadian!

Remarkably, I have a fantastic memory. Out and about-- or "oot and aboot" as my Canadian friends would say--in Apgujeong (the Beverly Hills/ 5th Avenue of Seoul), I remembered crossing a yellow checkerboard store with massive displays on its exterior of various french fry concoctions taking special notice of poutine since my co-workers had mentioned this dish over and over.

Weeks later, I had heard Dave and John raving and salivating over poutine again.

"I know where you can get poutine."

Immediately, their eyes lit up and nothing was left to discuss except for the time and date of the poutine extravaganza.

This extravaganza turned out to be more of a hunt in the sweltering heat of the concrete jungle that is Seoul. On our one day off, Dave and I trekked down to Apgu to find the picture of poutine. I have a remarkable memory remember...

It took us over 45 minutes walking in complete circles and squares. After asking various coffee baristas where this fabled poutine was located, we finally found it--smack in the middle of those circles and squares we had been walking in.

Dave and I ordered 2 regulars--around 4,000 won each. I took my first bite and was perplexed. How could french fries, brown gravy, and cheese curds mix together. I wasn't the biggest fan. Perhaps I'm too conditioned on yellow cheese and meat as opposed to gravy and white cheese curds. It was OK. I actually enjoyed their french fries a lot more. They were freshly cooked and cut on spot. Dave on the other hand, loved it. John was on his way and Dave knew he would get another to share with his fellow maple leaf. John arrived 10 minutes later with no trouble of finding New York Fries. I may have a remarkable memory, but I'm truly amazed by people with a good sense of direction.

John ordered and a regular. Dave ordered a bigger size, but was in shock to find he ordered their largest. The owners snickered at him as did I. I went for the supreme-fries, cheddar cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, and bacon.

Dave's First Bite of Poutine

Dave's 2nd Helping/Stomach Ache

Poutine: French Fries + Brown Gravy + Cheese Curds

Although I wasn't taken by the Canadian staple and delight of poutine, I'm glad I got to enjoy it with Dave and John who savored every bite like they got a taste of home. Being away from home is bittersweet. It is exciting because it's all so new, yet homesickness hits often. I'm glad that Korea can provide simple tastes of home despite being so far away from home. New stop...Taco Bell. Apparently, they are on the army bases...

Seoul World DJ Festival

May 9, 2009. Seoul World DJ Festival at Hangang Park. It was an all day/all night event.

I had worked IBT makeups earlier that day finishing at 2pm. I live in Nowon-gu, across town from the event near Mapo-gu Office Station. After a subway ride that lasted over an hour, I finally reached the station at 4pm. Dave and Mike had already started to set up camp at the outdoor concert at Nanjin Park of Hangang Park. Little did I know that Hangang Park encompases nearly all of the Han River, I ask a taxi driver to take me to Hangang Park figuring I was only 5 minutes away from the station. He took me across the river to a park with a circus. I called Dave hoping this was it. Negative. Nanjin Park was the destination. After 20 minutes of pitiful attempts at hailing a cab and droves of Korean families watching my absurd antics, I finally got into a second cab that took me to Nanjin Park area, 5 minutes away from the subway station. He told me I needed to climb a small mountain to get to Nanjin Park. So, that's what I did. I trekked up for 20 minutes to the top trying desperately to follow the music. I figured the concert was either at the top of the mountain or over it. When I finally got to the top, two pathways greeted me. I took the one more travelled leading to nothing but nature lovers strolling around the mountain. The other direction ended after 50 meters. I decided to climb back down despite my hopeful attempt to cross the mountain. Nevertheless, I found grot shots of the Han River and World Cup Stadium at the peak. Thinking beyond my physical limits, I decided to get smart. Why not follow the foreigners! I found a group walking on a trail that looked like they were into DJ music. I decided to rush past them making me look like I knew where I was going. After 10 minutes of scuffling, they were no longer behind me, nor was anyone in front of me. I had walked 3 km alone. Nevertheless, the music became more distinct. The concert was riverside, yet across a highway. I walked towards the closest overpass only to find it under construction. The next closest overpass was behind me back another 3 kilometers. Exasperated and exhausted, I walked 3.5 kilometers back to where the 2nd cab driver had dropped me off. I had caravans of families and tour buses stop to help me. I refused determined to do this on my own. No one could stop me. No one could touch me. If a rapist were to attack me then and there, they would only meet my fury. I finally crossed the overpass and walked another 3.5 kilometers along the river to my final destination. After 2.5 hours of traversing rivers, mountains and highways, I finally made it and all I wanted was an ice cold beer that was 30 minute wait.

Me, Dave, & Mike Finally Reunite After 2 Hours Lost

Crowd Shot during Towa Tei (Featured DJ from Japan)
Behind these people are waves of people sleeping since 9pm

View of the Han River from Nanjin Park

View of World Cup Stadium

Dr. Martens Cut Out
A Major Brand/Sponsor in Korea

I was at the concert from 6pm till 4:30am. It was an exhausting concert, but was well worth the trek to get there. I got to hang out with my old friends Dave & Mike and my former co-workers Trevor and Kristen. My other co-workers showed up too at the end of the night. It was like being in college again laying on the grass with our pizzas and beer and fist pumping to some good house and techno. I don't know when my next concert will be, but I'm glad I caught this one-an outdoor event full of foreigners coming together for their joy of good times and music in Korea.