Aaaand, that's a rap!

I just realised that I never made any reference whatsoever to the title of my blog yesterday. '10 Years On' referred to a message I got from my friend Aoife on facebook quoting something I wrote on the script of the play she wrote (and I acted in) ten years ago almost to the day!

"It wasn't a play, it was a whole new way of life. I've had such a ball all summer because of this and I love you totally - but it's not over yet - see you in August"

Cheesy, eh? Oh if I could talk to 17-year-old Brian now I would... probably tell him not to do anything too differently. I could have definitely treated people better, and cared less about what other people thought about me. That's about it, I guess.

I think that summer was one of the best of my life. I was just about to go away to University (in London) and had completed my Leaving Certificate. I don't look back on the past in the same way as a lot of other people I observe. I never really feel as though 'those were the days' because I still feel as though I have a lot in front of me. I have been lucky to have experienced a lot of things and long may that continue. Wow - I just realised that this sounds as though I have been diagnosed with a terminal illness or something!? I haven't...

I just taught my last lessons of the two-week intensive course I've been teaching. I was really lucky to have three enthusiastic groups and my homeroom made a lovely poster with messages from all of them. Thankfully I had prepared a 'thank-you' card for each of them in advance. I always want to leave them with a positive feeling toward English in the hope that they can take charge of their own development in future. In reality, there is only so much we can achieve with them during two- or three-week sessions. If they have a positive experience, have a chance to put past learning to practical use and increase their self-confidence in English then I think that constitutes a successful venture. Tomorrow morning they have their exam and final on-to-one interview. Then my schedule is very light for the next five weeks before three weeks off in August.

My knee is feeling a lot better now. I don't want to get ahead of myself but I hope to be back on my feet properly within a week or two. I haven't even totally ruled out the cycling trip I had been hoping to go on to Seonyudo Island the weekend after next. That might be asking a bit much but the pictures look amazing and I'm craving adventure these days.

Speaking of adventure, my sister Charlene is on the adventure of a lifetime these days. She's coming to the end of her course in acting at LAMDA. She has made a lot of sacrifices and put in an unbelievable amount of work to get to where she is right now. I'm crossing everything that this will act as a springboard for future success. If you happen to be in London you could do a lot worse than go and see her in, 'O Go My Man' at LAMDA, Baron's Court, on July 7th, 9th, 10th, 13th and 14th. I wish I could... All my sisters are doing so well, bless them. Rachel is God-knows-where traveling after a study year abroad in Australia. Emma is living in Cork and doing great. She lives with a girl from Seoul by pure coincidence. Melissa is a wonderfully talented singer and reeling in the prizes these days. More importantly, she is having the chance to sing in different styles and contexts. You can search for a video of her singing on the UpScenefacebook page .

I have rehearsal myself on Sunday again. I had to pull out last weekend because the journey to Hongdae was just too much to ask on crutches. I'm really looking forward to having a go at eight or nine songs properly. There's a good chance that we'll be playing at an outdoor rock festival in Gwangju at the end of August. It also looks as though I have a gig with Cheon (our bassist) as the singer in an all-Korean (aside from me, obviously...) Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band. That should be interesting... I'm really really up for a big summer of music. If I were American, I might even go as far as to say that I'm totally psyched! Do people actually say that...?

Meeting Ji for dinner in a bit, out with work tomorrow for lunch and drinks with Rob and Tom tomorrow night. A night of World Cup watching with Kevin et al on Saturday and band practice on Sunday. I feel as though I'm getting my life back at last. Cross your fingers that I don't push my knee too far and end up messing it up again... I'll leave you with a song that I've always thought would make an excellent cover (but have yet to convince anyone I've been in a band with).

10 Years On...

First off - the article was printed today and sounds great! I can't find it online but I'll put up a link/copy when I find one. I called home earlier and my parents were well chuffed. I hadn't mentioned to them at all so my Dad just opened the paper routinely and got the shock of his life! OK, of his day at least... Laurence did a great job putting it together. It's so strange how things come back to you. I acted in a play he wrote a few years ago and now I guess he wrote this article in return. I often wonder what other things will come back from the past and give me something today, both good and bad.

Work has not been too tough at all this week even though we are in the second week of our 'intensive' course. It's six classes a day maximum and I have three great groups so it has been a pleasure teaching them so far, to be honest. The only thing that slightly bugs me about my job is what I have to endure during breaks in the office. I work with a lot of very nice people but, you know that every office has it's 'characters'...

Ji and I celebrated our one-year anniversary (of meeting/going out - virtually the same thing) over the weekend. She has been looking after me loads these days with my dodgy knee (more on that later) and made me a lovely anniversary dinner. I always feel a bit awkward when she does lots of things for me because I'm not accustomed to it at all. She got me a lovely Canon IXUS 105 Digital Camera, which I'm really happy about since I had my camera stolen last February (with a lovely jacket that I had had for barely more than 2 months). I gave her her flight itinerary for Ireland at Christmas and she was over the moon. I think she had a sneaking suspicion (I, like my father, just can't help giving away surprises) but she was just so giddy and excited it was cute. She was worried about barging in on our family Christmas but I assured her that I had already checked with everyone and they are fine with it. It'll be a first for our family to have a 'partner' with us for Christmas but it's something I think we're all really looking forward to.

Speaking of the knee, I was back at the hospital last Friday morning but am no further forward as far as knowing what is actually wrong is concerned. I had an obnoxious Korean-American wannabe doctor 'volunteering' and calling me 'Bro' at the end of every sentence, in spite of the fact that I made it very obvious that I didn't want to speak to him. The doctor reckoned there is no serious damage but recommended an MRI scan, which I opted against when I heard the price... There is much less swelling and pain now so I'm hoping that a week or two more in my temporary cast and I'll be OK. Here's hoping...

The World Cup is getting to the business-end of proceedings and I'm hating the fact that I'm missing one live game a night this week. No shocks in the last-16 so far I think it's fair to say. Holland now unbeaten in 23 games - how have they managed to sneak under the radar so much? Brazil did look very smooth and comfortable against Chile but, at this stage, it's impossible to call those matches. I was gutted at South Korea going out but Uruguay were simply more clinical and, for that reason, deserve their place in the quarter-finals. That looks a great match against Ghana and tough to call. Fairytale for Ghana you might say but they are a strong team and I wasn't at all surprised that they beat the USA, who had offered little up to that point in my opinion. I also must admit that I found USA fans a bit annoying after a certain point. Yes, the are a decent side. No, they are not yet a really top team. Yes, there were decisions that went against them. No, that is not uncommon in football and if you don't like it then maybe this isn't the sport for you. I was also mystified at Landon Donovan's tearful interview post-the Algeria victory in which he spoke of his 'difficult journey'. Am I the only one that found that a bit puke-inducing considering that their next opponents were to be Ghana? I'd say on or two of their squad have had it slightly tougher than you buddy.

Another convincing performance from Argentina but another silly goal leaked so the doubts linger... Was there another game? Oh, yes... What can be said about England? I was fearing the worst when Lampard's goal wasn't given. I could just imagine the amount of times we'd be hearing about that one. As it turned out it was pretty convincing and Germany must now be considered genuine contenders. Ozil looks brilliant and Klose, Podolski and Mueller all look so sharp up front. They have never gone more than 20 years without winning the World Cup. They last won it in 1990... England: too high expectations and unreasonable treatment from fans and the media led to panic among the players. Should they be able to handle it? Yes, probably. However, England fans need to remember that there are maybe 10-12 teams going into these competitions harbouring aspirations of taking the title. No-one has any divine right to do so...

One final paragraph to make patently clear my views on goal-line technology. Japan V Paraguay beckons so it'll be brief. Refereeing errors are a part of the game. As a result, football is sometimes 'unfair'. Life is sometimes 'unfair'. These errors add to the value of sport as a spectacle. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against. If technology comes in, there may well STILL be mistakes. Besides, where does it stop? Replays for offsides? Penalty decisions? Free-kicks around the box? Any decision that may lead to a goal? I think there is now so much support for goal-line technology that it is inevitable that it will come sooner or later. I also think that'll be a sad day for the sport I love so much.

Derry City FC have been back in action recently following a short break. That, however, will have to wait. Japan V Paraguay - should be intriguing...

Make Yer Mammy Happy

I just did the interview for the paper I wrote about in my last blog. Hopefully it'll be in the paper on Tuesday (I'll put up a link) but, until then, here are the questions and how I answered:

Where in Moville are you from? Pretty sure I could get there but I don't know the name.

I'm from Cooley - just around the corner from Cooley Cross.

Will we give your mother and father a wee mention by name, what are they called and all your sisters?

My parents are Paddy and Philomena. Sisters Charlene, Emma, Rachel and Melissa.

What school did you go to?

I went to St. Josephs Boys NS in Moville and Carndonagh Community School.

When did you move to Seoul?

I moved to Seoul in November 2006 after finishing my PGCE (teaching certificate) in Canterbury, England.

What was your first job? Did you travel there with friends or on your own?

My first job was in a small, family-owned, English language academy. I came here because my friend (Robert Mc Laughlin, from Inishfallon) was working in the country but he finished his contract just as I got here and didn't return for four months so I was pretty much on my own when I first came here.

Why did you decide to leave Moville?

I decided to move to South Korea to experience what it's like living and working in a totally different culture to our own.

Did you go straight to Seoul or travel around a little? What is Seoul like to live in? How's your Korean coming along?

I moved straight to Seoul and started working the very next morning after I arrived, jet-lag and all! Seoul is a great place to live in. It is so convenient, modern and there are so many things to do, day and night. Public transport is modern and affordable. There is also a lot of English on signs, etc. so it's never too hard to get around. The thing that is hardest to get used to is that there are so many people everywhere you go and you usually stick out because there aren't a lot of foreigners here, although that is rapidly changing. My Korean is only basic. It's a tough language and it's easy to survive without it so I know less than I should considering how long I have lived here now.

What do you miss most about Ireland?

I definitely miss family and friends but skype and facebook are a big help with that. I also keep a blog at www.brianthestrider.blogspot.com. I miss peace and quiet sometimes and the fresh air. It'd be nice to be able to go for a stroll along the green whenever I like but I'm sure it'll still be there when I get back.

Is there much World Cup fever going on out there at the minute? Are you getting to watch games?

There is a huge amount of World Cup fever here. Korean fans are passionate about the national team and tens of thousands watch their games on huge outdoor screens around the city. I have been confined to my apartment for most of the World Cup because I tore ligaments in my knee playing football recently. All the games are live on TV here and I also watch some streamed online with English commentary. As it's summer, my teaching schedule is pretty light so I have only missed a handful even though they're on at pretty unsociable hours here. The final will kick off at 3.30am on a Sunday night/Monday morning so that'll be a fun Monday at work...

Speaking of games how long are you going to be in plaster with the knee?

Yeah I'm in a full-leg cast and on crutches so I'm not the most mobile I've ever been these days.

Career

What is the name of the language school you work in? What is your job title now and what does it entail? I know you had a promotion a while back so give me a bit of background on your career progression since you've been there.

I am an English professor at Duksung Women's University but the job title is a bit of an over-statement. Basically I'm an English instructor mainly for first-year students taking a special English immersion course at our language centre. It's residential for them so a lot of work with their regular classes at University. We are encouraged to teach very active lessons with a variety of different teaching styles and focus on practical English conversation skills, rather than grammar, which they already have to learn a lot in Secondary School. I was Head Teacher at my last job before I moved to my University, which just involved training and observing new teachers as well as my own teaching schedule.

I mean any details you can think of throw them in like how many pupils are there? Are they mainly Koreans or international pupils etc? Many Irish people going out there to study Korean?

Korean students have a much tougher school-life than at home. They have a very long day and often study in after-school academies. There is a huge amount of pressure to get good exam results to get into a good University, which is really important in determining their future job prospects. Pupils are generally well-behaved. Teachers are quite well respected in Korean society.

Virtually all my students are Korean but my girlfriend works at an International School with children from all over the world. They are the sons and daughters of diplomats and so on. I occasionally work there as a substitute teacher and my longer-term goal is to work in an International School as a Social Studies/Politics teacher.

There aren't many Irish people here studying Korean, to my knowledge. However, there are a lot of Irish working here and the number is rising as things get tougher economically at home. There are (of course) Irish bars, an Irish festival for St. Patrick's Day and even a fairly large Gaelic Football Club!

Tell me about your average day - Is there an average day are you in the classroom planning lessons or have I got the completely wrong idea of what you do for a living?

My average day involves lesson planning and teaching. I live in the same building as where I teach. There are about 16 other foreign teachers in the teaching room from all over the World (Canada, USA, England, New Zealand, and even Cavan!). My actual teaching hours are generally quite low, around 3 or 4 hours a day. I also get about 12-14 weeks off a year so I have chances to travel. I have visited around 18 countries in the last 4 years or so.

Do you think you are there for life now? Or is it a temp work visa?

Most people think they are coming here for a year and wind up staying longer because it's a great place and a nice lifestyle. I'm in my third yearly contract (I lived in South America for a year since I first moved here) and I plan to stay for at least a couple more years. I wouldn't say I'm a 'lifer' but never say never. I'm currently nearing completion of my MA in Citizenship Education which I'm doing by distance learning with the University of London's Institute of Education. When I have completed that I'd like to start working in an International School and who knows where that could take me? I don't plan to settle down back home any time soon. There are too many places I haven't seen yet.

I suppose I should ask about the raised hostilities following the sinking of the war ship - Did it seem like there was going to be a war?

It's not unusual for hostilities with North Korea to be in the news but the recent sinking of the Cheonnan was definitely different. Generally South Koreans don't seem too concerned about the North or worried about war but that wasn't the case when this happened. It's also the first time I've heard fellow foreigners talking about how they would leave if war broke out. For my part, I think (or hope) that prospect is highly unlikely. If it did happen, I don't think I'd find it easy to just leave somewhere I have called home for most of the past four years, when they would probably be in greatest need.

How did you react to that? Was yer Ma worried?

I don't think my parents were too worried. I think they trust me to look out for myself but, to be honest, I didn't really talk to them about it.

Band

Well in your own words I suppose how did it come about?

I have always played in bands for fun so I was keen to do the same here. I spent a lot of time meeting other musicians when I first came here and was lucky enough to get something together fairly soon after I arrived. There is a thriving live music scene here among foreigners living in Seoul. The internet really helped me connect with other people who had just arrived and wanted to do the same. Our first line-up included three Irish members (from Belfast and Limerick) and one from the North of England.

Are youse touring cos a little look at some of the photographs shows you playing to big crowds? Whats the biggest gig you've played?

We mainly play in live music bars and clubs around Seoul but we have also frequently played in other cities around the country. We are hoping to play at two outdoor rock festivals this summer. We released a CD earlier this year (songs at www.myspace.com/youareseoul) and had a really big turnout at our CD release party. We usually attract big numbers of both foreigners and Koreans because we play music that everyone knows and we have been going for more than three years now.

The line-up changes from time to time as different members come and go. In fact, we had to start a new band from scratch recently with two former members leaving. That had been our most stable line-up since we started so it was pretty sad finishing up. Now I sing with the original drummer from my first band, a Canadian guitarist and Korean bassist. Usually we rehearse once a week and gig 4-6 times a month although it really depends on our different schedules. It's a brilliant pastime and something I hope I'm always able to do.

Everything's All White

In much better form today. I didn't have as many classes to teach so my knee isn't as painful as it has been of late. I even had a bit of a sleep after work so I'm good to go for plenty of World Cup viewing tonight. Italy V Slovakia wasn't great in terms of quality but was intriguing throughout and exhilarating towards the end. Can France and Italy both really be out? In one way it's great to see so many shocks but I hope that the quality of football in the knock-out stages doesn't suffer as a result. A word must be reserved for New Zealand, unbeaten in three games and finishing higher than Italy in their group. Amazing effort for a country without a professional football league. Hopefully they can kick on from here. Unless the qualifying structure changes again in the near future, they certainly have every chance of making another appearance at Brazil 2014. That already has a ring to it, doesn't it?

I found someone to cover my morning classes tomorrow so I'm going to see a knee specialist first thing and hopefully I'll be OK to teach in the afternoon. I'm expecting to have fluid drained from my knee and then be in a cast for a month or so. I'm hoping it won't prove too costly (or be too painful). It has already cost me W400,000 and that will have serious consequences for my summer plans, with my thesis needing to be paid for in September. Let's hope I don't have any other unexpected bills anytime soon or I might have to resort to a begging bowl!

I'm massively thankful to my girlfriend these days. I'm in a position where I can't even really dress myself properly and it's very tough to get around or do anything, no matter how basic. She has been taking time out of her own very busy teaching schedule to come over and feed me, help me out generally and change the wrapping on my cast. Seriously what a star!? Our one year anniversary is coming up this weekend. I'm glad I prepared in advance to get her something really special. It would have been nice to have gone out for a nice meal or something but I'm sure we'll have a good time in our own way whatever we do.

My knee twist has brought up a lot of other issues that I wouldn't usually think of. For example, getting around on the subway is so difficult if you're not able for the stairs. You can get everywhere you need to go but it adds a lot of time and distance to your journey. Another point is how poorly we are covered by our medical insurance here in Korea. This is really hitting me in the pocket so it just goes to show how important it is to have something stored up for a rainy day. Additionally, Korean Labour Law doesn't entitle us to sick leave. In my particular job I need to find a substitute teacher for any lessons I can't teach myself and then compensate him/her out of my own pocket. I wouldn't like to think what could happen if one of us was unlucky enough to be involved in a more serious accident than mine. It's all adding to my desire to be more proactive with the various teacher associations developing here, such as ATEK.

I'm just half-watching Wimbledon as I write this. I'm really loving the Internet streaming I get these days. I have been able to watch most World Cup games with English commentary (the Italy Slovakia game came from ITV in the UK), some recent Grand Prix races and now Wimbledon. Murray looked at ease as he breezed into the third round in straight sets earlier. Could it be his year? I can't imagine the pressure he must be under. Every year.

It seems as though I might feature in an article about Moville (my hometown) in my local newspaper, The Derry Journal. An old friend (I acted in two plays he penned, one of which was based around the events of Bloody Sunday) writes for them and got in touch via facebook. It's strange to think that people back home would be reading about my life here and, no doubt, judging! I'm getting better and better at not worrying too much about what other people think. I found that very crippling in Ireland. Everyone has something to say about everything you do (or don't). I'm sure my Mammy and Daddy will enjoy reading about their wee boy, if it does actually happen. I guess I haven't been in the Journal since I graduated from Magee in 2005.

Nadal is struggling against Haase right now I see... I should probably try to get to sleep because I'll need to be bright for everything that's in store for me tomorrow. Please cross your fingers for me that I don't end up in some horrible full-leg cast for the summer (or need surgery....).

Castaway

Not going to be a long one tonight because I'm in a bit of a mood and not the type of mood that would even lead to a rant and possibly make for good reading. Finally went to the hospital today and the result was a long wait, a full-leg temporary cast and a W300,000 bill before I've eve seen a specialist (Friday morning). Wasn't as impressed with Seoul National University Hospital this time. Added to the fact that I'll have to take time off for my next appointment, this is proving to have been a very expensive kick-about. I guess you can't live life thinking that way though...

Classes are going fine and I really love teaching during the day. The students are more enthusiastic too so it's best for everyone. I'm going to struggle to be as active in the classroom as I normally am but hopefully the classes won't lose too much intensity. I might have to re-think a lot of activities. Probably the more physical ones will have to fall by the wayside for now. Ideas more than welcome...

I doubt that I'll be watching South Korea's crunch match against Nigeria tonight (kick-off is 3.30am here) but I might stay up for Mexico V Uruguay (two teams SK might meet should they qualify for the next round). Portugal looked great last night and I was fairly impressed by the highlights I saw of the Spain match, even though it is still far from clear whether or not they will qualify. Amazingly, Switzerland only need to beat Honduras by more than one to make it through..

Alright I'm going to call it a day at that. Before doing so I'd like to recommend a great blog I came across on Korean football. Seems as though I'll be having plenty of reading time over the next few weeks... Oh how I hate being dependent...

Click

The knee is still as dodgy as ever and I just booked myself an appointment with the doctor after work tomorrow so we'll see how bad the damage actually is. I've been reading a bit more about knee injuries and I think it might be a torn ligament so crutches could be on the agenda for the next while. It's amazing how much people take things for granted. I love nothing more than going for a nice long walk to clear my head but every journey these days is just too uncomfortable. It feels as though my knee could give way at any point.

One such journey was the trek down to Hongdae for band practice yesterday. It took me about half an hour longer than it should have and I'd hate to be physically disabled on the subway here. Taking elevators and such adds so much distance to the trip and lots of the escalators weren't even working.

Band practice itself was really very good. We got four songs together and, more importantly, it seems as though we are clicking well musically. Cheon is a brilliant bassist and I had a nice surprise in hearing Jeff's impressive backing vocals adding to his imperious skills on the guitar. He and Cheon are starting to form a good working relationship it seems. Jim, Jeff and I had chicken and beer after and talked about a million different songs that we'd all like to cover. It's exciting to see things taking shape again. As expected, it's less mainstream than U R Seoul but there will be a lot of well-known songs in there too. We even came up with a possible band name... Talk of gigs already and another rehearsal coming up next week.

I was back to work today and, in fact, had about twice as many classes as I normally do. I'm teaching three different groups (of 14) twice a day from 9.30-4.20. I usually teach 3/4 hours a day so 6 might seem like a bit of a stretch. In fact it went by fine and I have three very good groups again. They are all first year University students who have to take this intensive English course even though they're supposed to be on holiday from University really. Their attitude seems pretty good so far bless them.

Feeling pretty tired but ready for a couple more games tonight. What can North Korea do against Portugal? Will Chile make it two impressive wins in a row against Switzerland? I hope I can stay awake for both...

A stitch in time...

...saves 9. I definitely regret not going to the doctor about my knee before now. I won't have a chance to go to the hospital until Tuesday and I really hope I haven't caused some sort of serious damage. I still think it's just a twist and needs a bit more time... I couldn't really sleep comfortably last night with the pain and, with an early wake up call (9.30am on a Saturday morning IS early!) from cockroach repellent sprayers (a preventative measure), there was no way I could go to my friend Yeodi's wedding earlier today. I'm really gutted that I missed it and I hate not doing things that I said I would and getting the tag of being undependable. I think I have a habit of saying I can do things because I really want to rather than considering whether or not I actually can. It's something I dislike in others, probably because I'm so guilty of it myself.

As a result, I was in a bit of a mood for some of today with my knee swollen and sore and crossed wires over plans with my girlfriend. I've always been fond of the adages, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' and, 'familiarity breeds contempt' and I think there could be a case of that going on since she moved closer to where I live. Of course I'm a very independent man and I value my own time. Obviously I love spending time with her and it's great that she's so close but it's a matter of finding the balance.

I had another result in for an essay I handed in last month - a nice 80, or A- for you North Americans. I'm expecting to have all my results for the year in by August and my gut feeling is that I will be right on the line between a first and a 2:1 with two-thirds of my MA done. I started the MA hoping to get a 2:1. I think that is creditable given that I'm doing it part-time with work and other commitments. However, now that I'm close to getting a first, I'd probably be a little bit disappointed if I didn't. It's still a huge ask though. I joke with friends that I wish my average was about 5 marks lower so I could relax and be content with a 2:1. I don't think I have ever really stretched myself during my 23-year academic career, so I often wonder what I might achieve if I did. For those of you who are interested, I'm doing my MA with the University of London, Institute of Education in Citizenship Education. Distance learning really works for me but I guess it depends on what kind of learning style you prefer and thrive in.

There are many things I love about being in a band and one of the things I've been missing most is learning new songs to cover. I guess U R Seoul wasn't always as prolific as we might have been in terms of the amount of new songs we covered. That's due to the fact that, in Seoul, there are so many other demands on our time and frequently a band member is out of the country for a spell from time to time. I spent a few hours today going through new songs for what will hopefully turn out to be my new band. Everyone contributed ideas and I think it's shaping up to be promising but perhaps less mainstream than last time around. My own focus is to achieve better accuracy and challenge myself technically to be the best singer I can be. U R Seoul were very performance-oriented and, although entertaining and enjoyable, sometimes the quality suffered (from me, personally). Hopefully this new outfit can find a middle-ground and I know a first step for me as the singer is that I think about the songs more deeply and spend time out of band practice working on my technique. I think it might also sometimes involve just saying, 'no' to a song someone wants to cover, on the grounds that there are songs that simply are out of my vocal range. I'm really looking forward to band practice tomorrow. I'll be sure to update you on how it goes.

Four paragraphs and I haven't even mentioned the World Cup!? That is, in no way, an indication that I have lost interest or that it hasn't been dishing out as much excitement as it had been since June 11th. What more can be said about England's tepid draw with Algeria? The Desert Foxes were OK but England just looked terrified and overawed by the demands of a nation. In some respects, I can't blame them. I (unusually) had coverage from the UK online last night and some of the criticism was far out of proportion to the seriousness of the situation. The bottom line is that if England beat Slovenia then they will still qualify and then, who knows? I have seen a minority of comments on BBC's 606 advising people to get over Rooney's foolish tirade, pointing out the pointlessness of booing, and urging people to support the players in their final group game. That's my feeling too. Of course, being Irish, I'm not crazy at the thought of the English doing well (at football), but I don't really want to see another group of talented players exiting the competition before their time. I hope Capello makes a few changes, England qualify (although not too emphatically) and go on to challenge some of the likes of Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Italy and Holland. Which game would you prefer to watch: England V Argentina or Slovenia V Argentina? Honestly.

I have kind of coasted through the two games tonight. Holland V Japan turned out much as I expected and I just couldn't seem to make myself care much about Ghana V Australia. My girlfriend did her teacher training there so she got pretty animated. The thought of Denmark V Cameroon isn't sending my pulse racing either. Perhaps not missing a single match since Germany V Australia (last Sunday) is finally taking it's toll? I doubt it. Amazing news that France have sent Anelka home. Surely the rest of the squad will be following pretty soon. I doubt employers will be queuing up to offer Domenech a job when Blanc takes over the reigns of the national team. Pitiful performance for two tournaments running.

Now I'm going to attempt something I've not done on my blog before and add some videos. My co-worker Bob was showing me a spoof rock band he likes and it reminded me of 'The Darkness', who I haven't thought about in ages. Did you think they were spoof or a proper band, at the time? Have a look and see what you think now. I even covered this song once with my old band 'DayRelease' at Sally Long's in Galway probably in 2004. As you probably noticed, I couldn't figure out how to add the video here so you'll just have to use the link provided.

Finally, if you're in need of a laugh then I recommend you watch this old sketch from Catherine Tate. She is pretty convincing as a stereotypical Belfast mother and even reminds me of an ex of mine here. Thanks to Catherine for sending me the link last night.

I see the viewing figures going up every day on my blog so PLEASE leave a comment or email your thoughts. I still haven't told most people that I'm doing this because I'm not sure what it's like or what it's even supposed to be like. One thing that is for sure is that it fills that awkward gulf between the second and third World Cup matches of the day. 25 minutes until kick-off. I hope you're enjoying it all as much as I am.

Boring World Cup? Really?

Wow it has been brilliant. Definitely the silver lining to my crocked knee which is still limiting me to watching all the games at home. I might even miss my friend Yeodi's wedding tomorrow but I'm going to cross my fingers that I wake up fighting fit. Going to weddings on a fairly regular basis is a pretty sure sign that you're no spring chicken any longer, but there's life in this old dog yet (just as soon soon as my knee heals up). I even got called 'Grandpa' by a cheeky co-worker earlier tonight. Why I ought ta...

Amazing football, brilliant World Cup. No more complaining out of any of you please! France were just shocking last night and I have no idea what Domenech was up to. No Henry at any stage? Gourcoff not chosen because others players don't like him - can that really be true? Anelka off at half time for Gignac who seemed to play as a winger with no clear all-out striker? It just goes to show how Ireland had a great opportunity to take their place in South Africa. Hand ball or no, we shouldn't have lost at home and should have taken our chances in Paris. Oh what could have been...?

Another big shock with Serbia overcoming the Germans. Horrible refereeing with all those yellow cards and a soft red for Klose. No golden boot for him this time I'd say. Don't referees realise how big this tournament is? It was far from a dirty game but he was carding everything in that first half. Germany back down to Earth with a bump after their sensational opening win against Australia. Hopefully people will stop trying to draw judgements from one or two games now. Argentina were flying high in 2006 before going out with a whimper against Germany in the last eight. Who says the best team wins? Were Denmark the best team in Europe in 1992? Greece in 2004? If the upsets have taught us anything, it has surely taught us that these teams are closely matched and it's nigh-on impossible to predict them. See Slovenia 2 USA 2 - the best game of the tournament so far.

Having said that, I'm going to refrain from making a prediction for England V Algeria. Seconds from kick-off. Please, please don't make me go back to work on Monday. Thank heavens Derry City and FC Seoul will feed my football addiction after July 11th.

A painful day - in more ways than one

Well my twisted knee has swollen up nicely and is giving me a sneak preview into life as an 80-year-old as I hobble about the place at a snail's pace. My poor girlfriend has been waiting on me all day. I'd probably starve to death if she wasn't around! It does give me an excuse to be 100% inactive and just lay around immersing myself in all things World Cup-related.

I was partially right about the South Africa V Uruguay game last night, they were just more convincing than I had thought. It was very disappointing to see the hosts sit back so much and get down-hearted so easily. Aaron Mokoena was still talking the talk after the game but they need a near miracle against France if they're to avoid being the first host nation to fail to qualify beyond the group stages. Mind you, it's not as if the French are unbeatable and I fancy there will be plenty of support for the Bafana Bafana back home in Ireland.

I had been hoping to go to one of Seoul's many outdoor viewing areas for the big game tonight but my knee is severely limiting my mobility so I watched it on TV with my girlfriend at her place. I don't think anyone would argue with me saying that the Red Devils were poor in the first half and were lucky that the outstanding Lee Choung Young gave them a lifeline just before the break. He's a player I watched regularly at FC Seoul and it's fantastic to see him developing into such an accomplished winger. Bolton will struggle to hold onto him if he keeps this form up and he has been linked with Liverpool.

The second half was a different story and had Yeom Ki Hun taken his chance it could have ended very differently. As it was, Argentina's class shone through and Maradona is starting to look like a pretty tactically astute manager now with his selections and the timing of the Aguero substitution. 16 wins from 21 games is no mean return either. I said at the beginning of the tournament that my heart said Argentina. If they can shore up their defence then my head might start agreeing. 4-1 was very harsh on South Korea in a way but they looked terrified every time Tevez, Messi, di Maria or Aguero ran at them so it's hard to argue too much. I certainly lost a bet with a few old friends back in Buenos Aires. I might even have said that I'd move back there if Korea lost by more than two. We make the best calls under the influence of alcohol, don't we?

Greece's victory against Nigeria in a fairly bizarre match means that the door to the last 16 is still very much open for South Korea. The Nigerians haven't shown anything too convincing in their two matches and it's one we can definitely win ('we' being South Korea...). A draw would probably be enough if the Pumas can keep up their fine form and beat Greece for us. The World Cup continues to fascinate and hopefully the increase in goals scored today and yesterday will shut up any remaining detractors. I still really can't get my head around the arguments that this World Cup has failed to 'come to life' (how many times have I read that phrase this week?). It has been engaging, surprising (at times) and there has been a decent amount of good football. I have a sneaky feeling that a lot of those complaining don't actually watch that many games. Football is definitely not always a high-skill, high-scoring affair. Appreciating the other parts of the game is what really makes people fall in love with the sport.

I'm looking forward to having a good look at France tonight. I missed their opener against Uruguay back last week when I briefly flirted with the idea of having a life beyond the World Cup. I didn't miss much by all accounts. They'll have to up their game against Mexico and both sides are now under a lot of pressure to take the three points following Uruguay's convincing victory over South Africa last night. I know that most Irish people will be Mexican for the night but I'm not going to weigh into that debate again. What's done is done.

I'm contemplating going on a trip with Adventure Korea again for the weekend of my birthday but it's also the last weekend of the World Cup. The closing games will be at 3.30am in Korea - not too accessible with work on Monday morning but there's no way I'll be missing the World Cup final. I think my schedule is pretty easy again at that stage anyway - maybe I have one class in the morning or something. Can't complain with that. The trip is to Seonyudo Island and looks really amazing. If I could convince a few mates to come along then it'd be really cool but I know everyone has different financial demands and priorities over the summer so we'll see. I'm also thinking about going to both Jisan and Pentaport rock festivals but not going away anywhere during my three weeks off in August. Have a couple of grand to shell out for my thesis in September so there has to be a cap on the fun at some point.

Anyway, still more than an hour before kick-off between France V Mexico. I'm going to predict a draw for this one and real pressure on France going into their final group match against South Africa. I haven't been doing too badly with my predictions thus far but I'm still glad I'm not a betting man because I get my fair share wrong too! To those of you not interested in football I promise I'll blog about other things at some point. The findings of the Saville Inquiry represented a big day for Derry and for truth and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Tensions continue to simmer between the Koreas. The World still doesn't seem clear on how to best deal with the global debt crisis. I'll come to all those things in time. For now it's hard to see beyond the World Cup or the throbbing pain in my right knee.

Quarter-way there...

Amazingly we're almost ready to go into the second round of group games and we're already a quarter of the way through the entire tournament. Lot's of people are expressing disappointment about the quality of football so far. I think that's missing the point. New Zealand grabbed an improbable point, South Africa got the nation behind them with a draw in the opening match and North Korea charmed the world (not often you read that sentence) with a battling at, at times, skillful performance against Brazil. Germany looked very dangerous (albeit against Australia who are hardly World-beaters) and Argentina and Brazil showed promise. And what about Switzerland's tactical master-class in overcoming pre-tournament favourites Spain! In my humble opinion, it has been an enthralling start to the World's most popular sporting event. I hope the South Africans can provide some entertainment for us tonight but Uruguay will be tough to beat and very dangerous with Forlan and Suarez up front. I fancy them to drown out those deafening vuvuzelas with a narrow 1-0 victory. I would love to be wrong...

Away from the World Cup (yes, there are other things going on), I visited The War Memorial of Korea yesterday which is nestled between Noksapyeong and Samgakji stations on line 6. It wasn't my first visit but the place is massive and I still need to go back to properly experience the Korean War Rooms. It's an impressive museum with a large display of military vehicles and equipment in the forecourt. However, I'd have liked to have seen more of a focus on peace-building and military co-operation. It was very focused on Korean national pride and instilling espirit de corps. It wasn't surprising to see so many Korean military personnel looking around, presumably as part of their compulsory military service. I was there for two hours but I'd recommend spending a full day there to really soak everything in. Declassified documents from MacArthur and Truman in 1950 make for particularly interesting reading as do early UN Security Council resolutions hoping to deal with North Korean aggression nearly 60 years ago. Perhaps a reminder to many here of how international institutions would become involved in the event of (further) North Korean military aggression today. If you do go, try to go with a Korean. My girlfriend was really obviously affected by images of life during the Korean War from 1950-53 and that gave the visit more gravitas for me too.

Being off work this week is giving me plenty of opportunities to do things I can't normally get around to. Hollywoods Bar & Grill (mentioned in an earlier blog) offer a steak dinner on Tuesday nights for only 13,500 Won (a little under €9). The food there has improved significantly since a guy called Matt is took over and my steak, baked potato and veg were beautiful and good value at twice the price. It's also my bar of choice for World Cup watching with screens of various sizes dotted around. I watched the first half of New Zealand V Slovakia (final-score: 1-1) there before switching to Sam Ryan's in search of more Kiwis and a better atmosphere, without success. Also crossed paths with my girlfriend's ex and we all love it when things like that happen.

I had quite a few beers in me for Brazil V North Korea and REALLY got into it. What a great story. Have a look at North Korea's star striker Jong Tae Se. Wonderful stuff. Portugal and Ivory Coast should take note but I read with interest that Carlos Queiroz still all but wrote them off as a serious threat while talking about his side's lack-lustre 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast. I'd love to find out how the South Korean players are reacting to their North Korean counterparts. With a great deal of interest so far, that's for sure. What odds on a match up between two countries still technically at war...?

I was playing a bit of football myself today at the invitation of my friend Thomas at his workplace near where I work and live. I have been itching for a kick about for so long and REALLY loved it. I hardly covered myself in glory but didn't embarrass myself either. I even scored one in our 4-1 win. Managed to waste a good half-dozen decent openings though... The game didn't end too well for me with a bad twist of my knee forcing me to withdraw. It's swelling up here and I can barely walk on it. Maybe a trip to the hospital for me tomorrow. Knowing me, I'll only go if it turns blue and starts withering up... I'm sure it'll be grand in the morning... It would appear that my plans for the rest of the week might have to be shelved though. I had been hoping to go to Gwacheon and visit to zoo tomorrow with my better half before watching South Korea V Argentina at one of the outdoor big screens dotted around the city for these occasions. At this rate, it looks as though I might be on crutches! I have never witnessed a Korea game outdoors and I expect tat the atmosphere would be amazing so I really hope I can go.

Dae Han Min Guk!

I'm still recovering from my second truly brilliant weekend in a row. I visited the Leeum Gallery near Itaewon on Friday for a couple of hours. I enjoyed a lot of the work of Kim Hong Do but got a bit lost when the focus shifted to modern art, which doesn't convince me to be honest. I'm sure it's just my lack of appreciation but Rothko, Warhol et al just don't hold my attention for long. There were some pieces by Damien Hirst that I found relevant and engaging and a very thought-provoking work called 'I Have to Learn English' by a contemporary Korean artist. I'm sorry I can't remember his/her name but you can follow it up if you're really that interested!

I followed that up with a lovely meal with my girlfriend at Macaroni Market in Itaewon. The name doesn't really match the restaurant itself. It's a classy joint and the duck comfit was amazing. Don't order dessert unless you are REALLY still hungry. Our tapioca was massive.

Our night continued at Roofers where a friend was appearing in 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'. I thought the script was a bit weak in places but it was an impressive display for an amateur group and I really enjoyed some of the performances, especially the male voices. Roofers is somewhere I'd like to go back to even though the barmaid wasn't unbelievably friendly until I broke her down with my 'charm' over the course of the night.

We met friends at Rocky Mountain Tavern where the Seoul RMT FC women's football team were having their fundraiser, our former guitarist was celebrating his birthday and the 2010 World Cup kicked off in earnest. South Africa were plucky throughout and Tshabalala scored a screamer to ensure that I'll remember him for more than his humorous name! Mexico always looked as though they'd come back into it and, sure enough... It was an encouraging start though and will guarantee that the public will get behind the tournament, which should be good for everyone.

We headed to Eunseong City on Saturday morning for the Pumba festival. There was light drizzle but it didn't hold us back from dressing up as traditional Korean beggars and engaging in a variety of activities such as rice pounding, Korean drumming and candy breaking.. all a bit random (photos on facebook). It was fun aside from the fact that there was also a competition going on to capture shots of foreigners with a 2 million won prize, which led to us being harangued by our very own paparazzi for the majority of our time there. We continued to immerse ourselves in Korean culture during our free time, with a nice feed of makkeoli...yum yum...and unbelievably cheap.

The highlight of the day was the 2-0 victory over Greece. It was the score I called among the small group we gathered together. The lure of a party on the beach was too much for the majority of the bunch! It was a great display and I was really getting into it. There was a fantastic atmosphere in the bar even though the place emptied out bizarrely about five minutes after the match ended. We stayed on for Argentina V Nigeria and I was very happy to see another country I once called home coming through with a well-deserved victory. Not that they looked overly convincing...

Sunday morning came around pretty quickly but if you're looking for a good hangover cure then sea rafting could be the answer! I won't claim that it was unbelievably comfortable for me at all times (I can't swim...) but the instructors took me under their wing, making me feel very manly indeed. After rafting we got ourselves packed up to go paint balling. It was my first time but I can guarantee that it won't be my last. I absolutely loved it. It's funny how serious some people got. My approach was pretty gung-ho... It wasn't my first trip with Adventure Korea and I was impressed by their laid back approach and value for money once again.

I managed to watch Algeria V Slovenia but, let's be honest, it was pretty bog-standard. I'm happy for Robert Koren because he has always been a nice player and it seems strange that he has been released by West Brom. I can't see either team present any real threat to England or the USA unless they improve drastically. Mind you, Slovenia beat Russia in the play-off so I think it'd be naive to write them off just yet... I tried to watch Serbia v Ghana but the weekend took it's toll on me and I fell asleep midway through a fairly decent first half.

Mondays aren't so bad when you're off work. I slept in as much as I could to get my sleeping pattern in sync for the World Cup this week! I got my first haircut since last November/December and it turned out fine. It's always a bit unnerving getting a haircut here but there isn't much you can mess up with a shaved head, even though she managed to slightly anyway. My girlfriend was surprised but she likes it, thankfully. She kind of convinced me that my long hair phase had run it's course and I guess she's right but... I miss my lovely curly hair!? Only kidding... slightly... She just moved into her own place recently which is quite a big deal for an unmarried Korean female. I'm staying over tonight to keep her company (she's sleeping as I write this and wait for Italy V Paraguay). Watching the games on the new TV that I kind of bought for her. I say 'kind of' because she chose it and ordered it. I just gave her the money. It's not quite the same as going out and buying it for her. I wanted to get her something for her new place but I wanted to make sure it was something she actually wanted. At least her mother thinks it was a nice gesture and winning brownie points from the ever so slightly hostile mother can never be a bad thing.

Tonight I've been watching Holland V Denmark and Japan V Cameroon. I thought Holland looked very dangerous at times but Denmark defended very well and were quite unlucky in the goals they conceded. Mind you, they didn't create anywhere near enough to warrant a victory so it was the right result regardless. Japan V Cameroon struggled to hold my attention. Cameroon were all huff and puff while Japan were OK without being great. I think a draw would have been a fair result overall but Japan were happy to nick it for their first World Cup finals victory on foreign soil. Holland look certainties to progress from that group and I'd fancy Denmark to go through as runners-up. We shall see.

Italy have been off the radar for many people and it's easy to forget that they are the reigning World Champions. I'll be very interested to see how they fare against a Paraguay team that I expect to be quite well-organised and tough to break down. Italy will be looking to make a statement much in the same way as Germany did with their 4-0 annihilation of Australia.

It has been a good World Cup opening without being great. Only Germany have looked really impressive but I expect England and Holland to improve with each game, especially if Capello comes to some sort of final idea of what his best starting 11 now is. I expect him to stick with Green (even though I would have chosen James) and the return of Barry will be more than welcome. We still have to see the likes of Brazil, Portugal, and Spain so it's far too early to start altering overall predictions for the tournament.

Almost two hours until the next game. Nice of FIFA to allow us time to catch up on all the reports and stats for upcoming games. Like it or not, everyone is an expert during the World Cup.

Everything cancelled for ONE MONTH!

Well, it's here. It has been a long time in coming but when I woke up this morning the first thing I thought about was the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, starting tonight. For my part I'll be joining friends for a birthday party, soccer team fundraiser and the opening game at a Canadian bar in Itaewon. South Africa V Mexico I fear won't go in favour of the host nation but if they manage to clinch a draw, it would certainly get the nation behind them and make for an appetising start to the competition. Mexico are always dangerous at the World Cup and boast some promising players in the likes of Vela, dos Santos and Marquez. On paper, they look much more dangerous than South Africa but THIS IS THE WORLD CUP! Also, the South Africans have a player called Tshabalala so that gets extra points. I'm looking forward to seeing how Steven Pienaar responds to the pressure of being his nation's top man, with Benni Mc Carthy surprisingly not chosen for the final squad.

Anyway, that's just the opener. Who is going to go on and win the whole thing? Let's be brave, shall we? First off, 'Time' selected seven teams who they felt could go on and win the whole thing: Brazil, Spain, Italy, Argentina, England, Holland and.... the United States... Spot the US publication and the, quite frankly, shocking bias. Of course the USA have a chance, like the other 31 participants, but to leave out the likes of Germany and France in favour of a team that scored just once in the 2006 competition is laughable. They also selected Clint Dempsey as one of only seven players to watch, with the likes of C. Ronaldo, Messi, Maicon, Rooney, Eto'o and Casillas. Exalted company indeed.

For my part the answer is different depending on whether you ask my head or my heart. I spent a very memorable and enjoyable time traveling in South America, including a stint teaching English in Argentina in 2008. The Argentines have passion and confidence that certainly rubbed off on me. I watched them struggle to a 1-1 draw with Ecuador during the qualifiers but the talent on show was formidable: Veron, Riquelme, Messi, Tevez, Heinze, etc. There is no doubt in my mind that they have the talent at their disposal to win the tournament for their first Would Cup since 1986 (the third in their history). The question marks surround their national hero and former World Cup winner, Diego Maradona, and his skills as manager. During the qualifiers (although he took over towards the end) he didn't seem at all sure of who his best players were, made huge tactical errors and received a FIFA ban from football-related activities for a foul-mouthed tirade against the media after his side qualified narrowly with a 1-0 win away at double-World Cup winners Uruguay. To call him a colourful character would be the under-statement of the century. Will passion alone drive his gloriously talented players to victory? Or will his tactical ineptitude and bizzarre World Cup selections (Martin Palermo of Boca Juniors is 36-years-old and playing in his first World Cup) result in yet another damp disappointment.

Failure for Argentina could be good for my adopted home, South Korea. We're in a group with the Argentines, Greece and Nigeria. On paper, it looks like a group that we could get out of. Greece are effective and won the European Championship based on that alone in 2004. Nigeria have talented players in the likes of Martins but have (like other African teams, unfortunately) suffered upheaval behind the scenes and former Swedish boss, Lars Lagerback, has a big task on his hands. Players such as Park Ji Sung, Park Chu Young, Ki Seung Young and Lee Chong Young have been performing well at top leagues and Lee Dong Gook was top-scorer in the K-League last season and might be feeling more confident in his ability than he has for a long time. The World Cup isn't about being rational and I certainly won't hold back when I'm cheering on the Red Devils against Greece on Saturday. Of course, I'm not suggesting that South Korea will win or come near their 4th place finish in 2002.

Ask my head who will win and it has to be.... Brazil. It's a boring answer and I hate myself for it but they just seem so efficient well-organised, led by a national legend in Dunga and with a whole lot of talent in Kaka, Robinho, Maicon and others. I don't think they will hammer anyone (North Korea in the group stages won't give much away and Portugal and Ivory Coast will both fancy their chances of qualifying out of the group) but I think they'll be too much for anything anyone else has in the locker.

My girlfriend is waiting on me to go for lunch and visit the Leeum Museum of Art before we go to watch a friend appearing in the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee later on. I have A LOT more to say on the World Cup. I haven't even mentioned Spain (the favourites), France (Ireland's favourite), Italy (reigning Champions) or England....

Define 'discrimination'

I just made the mistake of getting into a bit of a tit for tat discussion on someone's facebook wall about the proposed new legislation in the UK requiring non-nationals married to UK citizens to take a basic language proficiency test BEFORE being granted entry to the UK. You can read about it on a related blog here.

My concern is that this is the latest in a long line of laws and policies that make it harder and harder for non-UK nationals to move to the UK. These include not only spouses of UK nationals but also asylum seekers and economic migrants. The result of these policies is that immigration is seen as a problem that needs to be curbed. This isn't helped by newspapers such as the Daily Mail publishing spurious stories about the harm that immigrants are doing to UK society.

The UK is a nation of many different ethnicities and this is not a recent development. 500,000 Belgians emigrated to Britain during World War One alone. That is not even to speak of the earlier arrival of Vikings, Celts, Normans, Saxons or the links between the Royal family and other Royal families elsewhere in Europe. Immigration has made the UK the place it is today. It is something that should be celebrated and encouraged, not attacked. I'm not suggesting an 'open-gate' policy, which would be a logistical error. However, it's time for these media attitudes and government polcies to alter, so that immigration shakes off it's negative image and people start to embrace it more widely.

Immigration didn't start in 1900, or 1918, or 1945 or 1960... There is a view that, "this is our country" but a long view of history is often over-looked. No-one has been in the UK since the beginning of time. There was no cut-off point where those who are there get to stay and those who want to go there can't. I hope that history, geography and citizenship education can encourage children to see that and learn about the influences from all over the world that have created the country they live in today.

The next time someone at work, in school or online comes out with some sweeping statement about immigration, challenge them. I haven't lived in Ireland since 2005. I am a cosmopolitan citizen. The fact that I'm white and was born in a 'developed' country shouldn't make that easier for me than it is for others.

Losing my blogging virginity...

Well here goes...

I've been thinking about starting a blog for quite a while and wanted to do so as soon as I got my exams out of the way and had more time. I guess it'd be appropriate to explain why.

1. I haven't live in Ireland since 2005 and it's getting harder and harder to keep in touch with old friends. I'm hoping that people might check in here from time to time if they want to check whether or not I'm still alive. Perhaps it might even inspire you to drop me an email!

2. I studied International Politics before completing my PGCE in Citizenship Education and I'm now only a thesis away from my MA in Citizenship Education. As a result, I have a lot to say about politics, identity, citizenship, and so on... However, I find it really hard to talk about these things in person. It seems as though everyone has an opinion and I guess I'm just not patient enough for that..

3. Sometimes I think I keep things to myself too much and I'm hoping this blog can give me somewhere to vent. I'm not planning on sharing my blog address widely so I'm hoping I can be pretty honest on here without openly offending anyone. Yeah, we'll see how that goes.

4. I have a broad range of interests ranging frm music (singing), chess, poker, reading, education, politics, human rights, travel, current affairs and running. I'm hoping I can share my thoughts with others and benefit from your different opinions, recommendations, and so on. Honestly, I'm not at all sure what's going to come from this.

I suppose I should introduce myself a bit more clearly. My name is Brian and I'm from Co. Donegal, Ireland. I started teaching for fun a long time ago and completed my Post-graduate Diploma in Education (eaching certificate) in 2006. I moved to South Korea where I've been working most of the time since then. I currently teach English (language) at a women's university in northern-Seoul. I have also spent time teaching in Argentina and England. I'm doing my MA in Citizenship Education with the Institute of Education through the University of London External Program. I finished exams last week so hope to start my thesis in September and have my MA this time (June) next year.

I come from a family of 7 and grew up on a farm in a rural area near a coastal town on the northern coast of Ireland. I have 4 sisters and a good relationship with my mother and father. I only really see them about once a year these days (perhaps aiding the 'good relationship'!). I'm planning on going home for Christmas again this year.

I have been dating a Korean girl called Park Ji Young (Sophia) for almost a year. I met her when I was singing in my band at her local bar and talked to her afterward.

Ok I think that's enough for today. If you've read this far then you'll realise that I'm not writing one of those witty, engaging blogs you see a lot (and that I'm jealous of!). This is a blog which will change from day to day, which is for me and those I care about. If I attract a few other readers then great, but it's not my intention.

I hope everyone is having a great day wherever you are in the world.

This has been fun! How many more I wonder...