evilshoebox

Today I moved host families. That's over a week in advance to what I had planned. But some things came up and today was really the optimal day to go about the move. So...I'm like an hour's travel from school now. And I don't really know how to get anywhere because I just got here. It could be interesting tomorrow morning, I hope I don't get lost attempting to get to school.

This apartment is fucking huge. Haha. It's funny when you go to countries where only rich people can host students.

This place even has a real shower. Wow.

Yeah.

I guess that's all I have right now.

Haha, and I can actually type on this keyboard instead of typing like a retard like I did on the other one.

Take care, everyone.

Okay.

Let's get something straight people.

Stop fucking comparing South Korea to Japan whenever I mention something about Korea. They aren't the same country. And...if anything, Japan should be compared to Korea. Hell...if it wasn't for Korea, Japan wouldn't have the culture it has today.

I'm serious. A lot of the old nobles from Japan were educated by Koreans...Korea had a lot of influence on them, blah blah blah...I'm not going to bore you with all that history...I'll wait till I get back home for that so you can see my annoying hand gestures to go along with the lecture.

So...what inspired this little rant? All those people that kept on trying to tell me that the Korean education system was similar to Japan's.

What the fuck? Koreans study way more. Even the Japanese chick complains that Koreans study too much.

Don't make ignorant comments.

They piss me off.

Anyway.

I don't have to go to school tomorrow because I'm going to a festival at Marly's school.
I don't know what this festival consists of, but I hope it's cool.

Anyway.

Last week.

Japan.

Japan is cleaner than Korea.
Japanese people are always nice.
Japanese people are really quiet.
At least that was the impression that I got.

Koreans aren't always nice...it keeps things intersting and not boring.
Koreans are really loud...it's quite amusing. It means that I get to use my outside voice inside a lot.
Koreans keep their household really clean, but everyplace that isn't a household is gonna get trashed.

The Japan trip was nice...but I missed how loud Korea is. That and I got a cold in Japan.

I didn't get to see any of my Japanese friends, but I did get to talk to Yoshie on the phone. That was really nice...haven't heard that voice in over 2 years. They were expensive phone calls though. Damn public telephones.

Anyway.

I like Korea. Some people seem to think that I don't. But I do. Everyone here is pretty awesome and I like it here very much. I just get super lonely, you know, with all the time that I spend by myself. And the Rotarians that deal with youth exchange pretty much suck. The rest of the rotarians (except the ones that didn't want exchange students) are pretty awesome.

Hannah, we should email more, because it's important to...or just because I wanna have emails to actually check and the like.

Anyway. (I type that a lot...)

I don't know if/when I will change schools...but, hey...I'm happy because I should be able to get to my money now. Hopefully.

And...crazy school tomorrow.

And...I dunno.

I'm just kinda rambling now.

I think that means that I should stop.

Much love (and extra, extra love to those who know that they deserve it ^^)

Saturday started off a little different than usual anyway.

I went to Korean language class. The teacher is really nice, and she's really helpful...and even though she is Korean, I'd doubt it most of the time. She doesn't act all condescending because she is a teacher and she was suprised when I was doing all the polite shit that I have to do to almost all of my teachers. That and she thought I was an English teacher ^^;;;

Then I had some rotary shindig for 30 minutes...it was pretty much a waste of time. They gave me money...told me not to stress about the language too much (wow...talk about a change of attitude there...I guess my getting pissed off every other time that they saw me was starting to get to them...haha. I still think it's funny when a middle-aged woman is begging me not to get angry, seriously...the best way to keep me happy is to not be a wanker all the time. Too bad they're wankers most of the time...)...and they told me that I will probably switch to a different school...either a computer science school or a tech school. I hope it's the tech school...if I go the computer science school, I still won't be doing anything AND I'll just bum around on the computer all day...yeah, sometimes I think the exchange committee here is retarded, but I guess it isn't their fault...they never have students so they don't really know what to do. It is just annoying that I have to pull tehm along and show them the way of how things are meant to be done...bah.

Yeah...so, boys and girls...who wants to hear a really, really funny story. One that only an exchange student could experience...one that only an exchange student could tell. Fuck...exchange students can get away with anything, I swear...especially if they are white, american, and in South Korea.

( If you're my parents...you probably don't want to read this...but, then again, you might...it's pretty damned funny. )

Haha.

Oh yeah. I'm having a good time, if you can't tell.

Yeah, so on Saturday all of us students are going to go pick out the colours we want for the traditional Korean garb that Rotary will give us on Korean Harvest Day (Thanksgiving...kinda). That means Marlie will be there, and that is a good thing so she and I can hang out and talk about how learning a language in 2-3 weeks is really rather silly. It's stressing everyone out. Me, Marly, my host mother, her host mother...we're all feeling pressured to accomplish that which we can't. One of the English teachers at my school told me to ignore it and just learn a few words a day and try to grasp grammar as quickly as possible and not to stress. He told me to read during school to relieve it. I think I will take the advice. We can all only learn as fast as we can learn.

TV next week...gross.

Speech Monday...in Korean...hard.

Teachers are starting to bring me textbooks in english so I can do some schoolwork...but...I'm usually worried about the language and not what they ask me to do. I mean...I don't understand physics as it is, much less when the teacher attempts to teach it to me in broken english where it sounds like Korean anyway.

At least I'm starting to be able to say some things. It's still a struggle all the time, but...at least I can not be rude (for the most part) when it comes to proper greetings and the like.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I have to speak well by next week. What the hell? Yeah, I guess so, because I'm gonna be on TV here. I don't want to be on TV, but I am. That will make me well known here. That's...different.

Haha...people should come here, you know why? Because I own at basketball here...and if I do that, it'd be funny to see what some other people would do.

I need a cell phone. But they are too expensive. The cheapest ones are over $100...and I don't know how much to run the thing will be, but I need one. It's a necessity here.

Oh yeah, and Mum...you know how whenever you watch KBS you say they overact. No...they really don't, people really are like that here. It's really funny to watch. Coreans are crazy and I love them.

Hello again, everyone.

So I just finished my third day of school a little while ago today.

Teachers spend lots of time talking to me through 규성 (or, instead, choose to attempt to speak directly to me with English that I think is Korean because their accents are so heavy) instead of teaching class. The rest of the time they teach and stare at me while I dumbfoundedly look around the room while trying to listen and figure out what they are saying. Failing miserably, of course.

Seriously. I love the food here.

The other day when I left school at my normal time, 규성 skipped out with me so we could go a PC 방. Yeah...I have Corean in my post. That means that I am cooler than you are.

Last night I went to the gym to lift weights. I think I'm going to get a membership so I can do it on a regular basis...it will give me something to do when everyone else is studying. Anyway, while I was there a girl approached me and asked me to teach her English, and she offered to help me with Korean as well (because 규성 is too busy with studying and 윤영, my sister, is helping me some, but I need more) so...I think that all works out pretty beneficially for everyone.

WARNING: Etiquette is a bitch.

Love,
Joe

For any of you that give a shit, I left for Busan, South Korea on Monday and I arrived here at 9:10 PM local time on Tuesday.

I have already started school. I am living with Mark (for those of you who know him...yes...it is now a pretty hectic place around here with the two of us here) and his family. Everyone is very nice. I have a 15 (16 in Korea) year old sister as well as Mark when it comes to siblings. I haven't seen much of my father, but he is a doctor. My mother just started to go back to work as a primary school teacher, I don't yet know what she teaches. We also live with our grandmother who is also very nice.

I started school today. I had no idea what the hell was going on for about 9 hours of my life. I get out at 4, so the length of the school day is not that bad at all. It was still very hard not to fall asleep, though...because, as I mentioned, I had no idea what was going on.

I don't know what is going on most of the time. But everyone is very nice and understanding even if I inadvertently offend them one way or another. Usually that only happens when I don't say something or bow or something or other...and that's mostly just because of the aforementioned "I don't know what the hell is going on yet!"

I still don't know how Milo doesn't like Korean food. Everyone should come here and eat Korean food, it is the best.

Anyway, back to the subject of school. I am no longer attending Busan International High School (in fact, I never did...I was just meant to). I don't know what made them change their minds, but I have a feeling that Kyu-Sung (Mark) must have said something. He really didn't want to go there at all. SO, instead we are both going to an all-boys school where we are both new. Everyone just sort of crowds around me all of the time, but doesn't really say anything to me. They just huddle around and make jokes to themselves or stare at me or something. It's strange being the complete centre of attention...now I guess I know what the dog feels like...minus the whole part where I get yelled at constantly.

I am trying to study Korean...but...pronounciation has got me by the throat most of the time. I think people think that I am very shy here or something, but it is mostly because I don't know what to say. Ever. Really. Yeah. I don't know.

I think I'm going to shut up now. You've all had quite enough of my mindless banter. Yes.

Annyong!

-Joe

Thanks to Eric for this one.

The Task: Choose a band/artist and answer ONLY IN SONG TITLES by that band:

Artist/Band: The John Butler Trio

Are you male or female: Betterman

Describe yourself: Earthbound Child

How do some people feel about you: Damned to Hell

How do you feel about yourself: Bound to Ramble

Describe what you want to be: Ocean

Describe how you live: Across the Universe

Describe how you love: Don't Understand

Share a few words of wisdom: Life Ain't What it Seems

( Here are some ramblings I had while not editing myself during Advanced Creative Writing...Enjoy...or maybe not. )

You know. I'm sick. But I'm doing homework right now. Does anyone else think there is something wrong with that? I didn't feel well earlier so I didnt do it then, but it started getting late so I was like "I better do it." but I still don't feel well. This is stupid. When you are unwell, you shouldn't be doing work. I'm really tempted to say fuck it and bear with the teachers being mad and giving me a poor grade.

I just thought while I was sitting here doing work while I don't feel well...this is really fucking stupid. I have too much work. I've tried switching out of classes...but they won't let me. It isnt that I cant do all this work...its that I dont have the drive to do it anymore. Yes...before I could have easily done this and been content...but not anymore. I need time to sit around and read and play guitar and I can't let school be my whole life anymore. It dictates everything that I do. I was gonna do the play, but I have too much work and I dont think it would be best. I don't do a lot of things because I have too much work. And then on weekends I blow off work because I want time to myself, then I dont get it all done and my grades show it...not that the grades matter to me, but I don't want my parents mad at me...not even that I care why they are mad or anything, they have just let me do a lot...so I guess I feel like I owe it to them. But at the same time, I dont want all this work...I cant do it and be happy. It's like...to keep them happy I have to be miserable...but for me to be happy...Itll end up upsetting them. Its so stupid...school dictating this much of my life.

Right now I am miserable. I need something to change. I need to get out of a class or something. This is ridiculous. BUT THE FUCKING SCHOOL WONT LET ME FUCKING CHANGE CLASSES CUZ THEY THINK IT WILL LOOK BAD ON MY FUCKING TRANSCRIPT! THEY ARE MORE FUCKING WORRIED ABOUT ME GETTING INTO MORE FUCKING SCHOOL THAN WORRIED ABOUT IF I AM HAPPY! THIS IS SO FUCKING STUPID I WANT TO EXPLODE!

I hope my parents read this...

I just want to be happy...and I know that I am not happy with things as they are right now.

I feel like I'm bitching about petty things that don't matter...I mean, a lot of people make these things matter, but they really dont...and I feel small and stupid for making them matter right now...I just want school to be over. I just want to get a job instead of go to school. I just want to have a job and come home and make music. That's all I want...I want a job where I help people who need help. But here I am...bent over a million tomes, regurgitating information, going to school...spouting verbal diarrhea...its so silly...all that for a fucking letter on a piece of paper. And those letters all for another piece of paper that says "Joe Hahn completed high school"...I'm not happy. I'm not happy. I realized today that this doesnt have anything to do with where I am...like...it doesnt matter that im in the US or Oz...its where I am in life that I am not happy about...I hate this part of life. Make it go away. Let me go get a job making something...I'm not happy.

If anyone has any advice..please lend it...because...I need help.

So. I have been going to school. It is gross.

Thursday I went to see The John Butler Trio with Alex and Maria. It was amazing, great show, great times, nice day...it was just a perfect night and nothing can beat it for a very long time.

We now have a milkcrate among other things on the bike and I can bike pretty much wherever now. It is nice.

Yesterday I biked to the Willy St. Fair. Glass blowing is awesome. Saw Carrie! WOOT! Haven't seen le Carriebear in yonks. So, hung out with Carrie, Bri, Bettsy (My new friend), Sam, Ben, Nate, Azzie, Jimbo, Eli, Jack, Taylor, and Henry. Wow. Though the fair didn't have much and it was tiny and we didn't really do much, it was just nice to be hanging out with those guys, it is so chill...and Carrie was there, and I missed her.

So...friday I was a stupid person and sometimes I hate myself because I never think before I do things.

Saturday was awesome.

Sunday I didn't win the Best Looking Man's Legs in a Kilt competition...however, I did get to wear a kilt.

Today...I got an awesome bike...it's my baby. I think I shall name it Megatron.

I feel like posting lyrics...so here goes.

( BE MORE BLOODY POSITIVE, BITCHES! )

( Cancer or Carwreck, What's it gonna be? )

Went to a rather good show down at the Mierde Verde (up a few warehouses from Free Wheel) last night. Lineup: Pain Tractor (would have been alright if they didn't sound like everyone else), Pray For Death (wow, that name just sucks...you'd think they'd be a really shitty band with a name like that, but I actually really enjoyed their set), BREATH WEAPON (Yes, good band...has always been good...seen them several times.), Midget Parade (Good, good band...yay!).

Umm...was told last night that "Complaining will make the year seem really long." Well...the year was going to be long anyway. And to be honest, I wasn't really complaining, it must have been my tone of voice. I guess what I was pointing out was that Edgewood would benefit from more group discussion. If that is complaining, I am sorry. I guess what doesn't really work in my favour is the fact that I don't want to be back here at all. I mean, I've accepted that I am stuck here for a while, but really...I don't like being back home at all. Why I wanted to come home, I don't know...but it just isn't any fun like it used to be. I'm just stating things how I see them, not complaining.

"She asked me if I wanna die, I said 'Of course I do, sometimes, Anybody who doesn't wanna die must not really be alive.'"

I don't feel like doing homework...so I stole quizzes from Sashi.

Your Political Profile

Overall: 15% Conservative, 85% Liberal

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Because...I label myself like that...haha.

You Are 15% American

You're as American as Key Lime Tofu Pie Otherwise known as un-American! You belong in Cairo or Paris... Get out fast - before you end up in Gitmo!

You Should Learn Swedish

Fantastisk! You're laid back about learning a language - and about life in general. Peaceful, beautiful Sweden is ideal for you... And you won't even have to speak perfect Swedish to get around!

Erik, here I come, Mate!

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You'd like to your lover to think you are flexible and ready for anything!

You would be forced to break up with someone who was arrogant, acting like the dictator of your life.

Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is low. Even if you're tempted, you'd try hard not to do it.

You think of marriage pessimistically. You don't think happy marriages exist anymore.

In this moment, you think of love as something you don't need. You just feel like flirting around and playing right now.

Who the fuck has the time to make these things? I guess that is about as good of a question as who the fuck has the time to take them.

How You Life Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is. You say whatever is on your mind. Other people's reactions don't phase you. You're open to new people and friends, which makes you a pretty popular person. Some of your past dreams have disappointed you, but you don't let it get you down.

You Are 90% Weird

You're more than quirky, you're downright strange. But you're also strangely compelling, like a cult leader.

Now I know my calling in life...I'll be an obscene cult leader like Charles Manson or something (keep in mind that cult is not neccesarily a derogatory term...)

Good night.

must be dead if you ask me!" So many songs left to sing, so many places left to see!

Okay, so...today I decided that Squeek talks too much about DnD and not enough about girls. I think he's either asexual...or possibly attracted to the illustrations of female elves in RPG books. I also decided that Hickle has been nicer to me this year than most people have (he came up to me today to make sure that my meal from Pasqual's was alright, he apparently had the same thing and just wanted to make sure mine was alright) ...and that makes me smile. And...that the sophomores and juniors are way more mature than the seniors, and I seem to have more friends in those years...crazy shit. Oh, and that Nolan Berry might do a lot of things that I would never do...but he's a good guy.

And...that Regina is possibly the greatest man alive.

Oh...and that school is still a real drag, but I'm diggin The Mars Volta record I bought for $3.

But this place is still a real drag...I need more people around me that make me happy...

I don't know what to write. My brain hurts from school.

Talked a lot with Hickle today...pretty good guy, I guess I just never really took the time. I'd like to go see Andrea play tonight...but it isn't looking particularly hopeful.

Everyone has angry pants about petty things.

Someone come spend time with me, please, I am lonely and bored.

"She asked me if I've got a job, I said 'No way! I've got no job! Why would anyone want a job?! Life's too short to have a job!" - Ghost Mice, Boy Meets Girl

Today's too short to worry about doing what's on our list of things to do.

Okay...time for me to get in ranting mood...cuz I put two and two together and I decided that things were pissing me off.

I have been home since the 5th of July now...That is over a month and a half. You would think I would be somewhat settled in and the like, since I got settled in very quickly while I was away...you know...maybe a few days, but no...not really. This place is pissing me the bloody fuck off. You know, it's good to see those that a care about and all...but...fuck, let me get out of this place once again. One, you have these people at Edgewood whom do not know how to grow up at all (not all of youse, of course...those of you who are not pissing me off, youse should know who you are. Also, I am not claiming to be grown up at all...just not so fucking vain, petty, bitchy, and I don't bloody worry about everything.), what is it with youse? Then of course, there is the "WE'RE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN! YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE TALK SO FUCKING MUCH AND SO FUCKING LOUD THAT IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WE'RE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A COMPLETE FUCKING MORON (or maybe just deaf...)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't mean to generalize at all...but it is true. So. Bloody. Loud. Also...being surrounded by ignorant United States of Americans...I am disgusted whenever I go out into public. Loud...obnoxious...and saying things that are fucking ridiculous. And the next person that asks me if I am British...oh they're going to get slapped. You know why? Because Aussies sound nothing like bloody, fucking Pommies, at all. I could understand mistaking me for South African (even though Aussies sound nothing like that either...but I give people here a little slack...but not much) or Kiwi, but not fucking Pommy. I talk like I am from Oz, I know I am not, but I feel more Australian than United States of American.

I feel so restricted here, it is ridiculous.

GET ME OUT, PLEASE! Or at least make it more bearable.

And for those who make me "all sorts of happy" (you know who you are) I miss talking/seeing you. I'd like to hear from/see you soon...it makes being here oh so much more bearable.

Oh yeah...school on monday. Isn't it going to be fun attending classes when my friends are off having fun out of school? Yeah...real fucking blast. Fuck long Christmas breaks...I want time off in the fucking summer.

I said "fuck" a lot. Fucking deal with it...FUCKITY FUCK FUCK FUCK.

On a more happy note. I have overalls...fear me.

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you all know that I will be home tuesday night at somewhere between a quarter to 9 PM and later...I dont really know. The itinerary says that I will be home at 8:40 PM...I don't trust it though. Anyway, yeah, that's what I know. If you wanna meet me at the airport, go aheard...bring friends (that I know, of course) if you wanna, we can catch up a bit, and then we can possibly have a proper party in a few days time after that.

Anyway...I leave soon...see you all soon.

Much love,
Shmoie

( Holla ta mah peeps...haha...ebonics, biatch! )

I really cannot seem to shake this cold...I have had it for about 3 weeks or more now...It's really starting to piss me off. I took drastic measures last night when I drank heaps of this really foul, rank scotch whiskey to try to shock it outta my system...didn't really work. That stuff was terrible...TERRIBLE...but Peter (my host dad) insisted I try it, haha...It would have been different if it was Jameson (YAY IRISH WHISKEY!)...

Guillaume left Monday...I was so sad to see him go. Today I got a text from Moritz...he left today...I cried when I got that message. I never cry anymore...I think that must mean something. I rang him up...he was checking in. You know, I don't know what to think anymore. I am so excited to go home, but these people...I don't want to leave them. All you exchange students, I love you like my family...my own brothers and sisters...I better see youse later!

My 'Skansin accent/slang got in bed wiht the Oz accent/slang today...I seriously said something along the lines of: "'Ow ya goin, mate? Cold out, ainahey? Yah-hey? Gizza VB and stubby-olda. What a humdinger, YOU BEAUT! Yer a champion, mate!"

Scary, ainahey?