Soju: The Drink of Choice

        
      Although probably most of the student's at this school are too young to legally have a sip of alcohol, I think it would be good for them to learn the drinking etiquette in Korea. After a long hard week at college or a company party after work, most people are gonna be in a situation to drink at sometime in there lives in Korea.

• Soju is usually drunk in group gatherings.
• It is against traditional manners in Korea to fill one's own glass. They wait for someone else to fill their empty glass. Others are expected to fill the glass and are eager to do so as soon as they spot an empty glass. A sign of respect when pouring someone a glass.
• A glass should not be filled unless completely empty.
• If your glass is going to be filled by a superior, you should hold the glass using two hands. When pouring soju for a superior, you should hold the bottle with two hands.
• If a senior gives an empty soju shotglass (usually his/hers) to you, it means that the person is going to fill the glass and wants you to drink it. You do not have to drink it bottoms up, but at least you have to act like you are drinking it (sipping is okay). And if you drink "the glass" and make it empty, then turn the glass back to the senior who gave it to you. You are not supposed to turn it back soon, but holding it for a long time is considered rude.
• Koreans say "one shot", a challenge to down your glass in one gulp.
• When drinking in front of elders (people older than you), you should always turn away from the elder and then consume. Drinking the shot while facing the elder is disrespectful.
• When drinking among friends of equal social stature, it is often considered overly formal to use two hands when pouring or receiving a drink. 
• While drinking many people play "games" if you lose the game you drink the punishing drink the last person to lost has made

Starcraft? Starcraft.... Starcraft!

In South Korea, if you're an avid Stcraft fan, you might ask your fellow mates "did you play Star today?" Since its release in 1998, Starcraft has become a massive hit in South Korea--the following is almost cult-like. I've even had students write their essays about Starcraft and the World Cyber Games (WCG).

Just how computer game crazy is South Korea? Well, for starters there are two game channels on TV here, Ongamenet and MBCGame, where two Starcraft pros go at it against each other (it's quite the feeling to watch the Starcraft battles while I'm running on the treadmill), a Starcraft Pro League, and the KeSPA (Korean e-Sports Players Association) just to name the major players. The most popular and legendary Starcraft gamer is Lim Yo-Hwan (known to many as SlayerS_`BoxeR` or better yet, Mr. Starcraft how does a 600,000+ member fan club sound to you?), a 27 year old who needs bodyguards to keep away screaming female fans (and boys) from him. Even his mandatory military service (every Korean male needs to complete 27 months of military service) couldn't stop him from gaming, as the Air Force formed its own gaming team led by Lim to compete against the Starcraft elite in Korea.

"Cars cars cars, cars I do adore." (Quoted from a song by Jay-z)

         Vroom vroom vroom. I've been growing up around cars my whole life, my dad owns several auto-body shops around The Bay Area. You could ask me anything about any car and I'll probably know about it.                                                                             
                                                                  My first car.

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I wish =(

     Car's can just be a means for transportation, or for people like me thrill, fun, a mini steel-enforced sanctuary. I remember before I got my license when I was in California and I would go out to Lucas Valley ( George Lucas's property) and drive around the slopes up the hills speeding back and forth thinking I was some kind of Formula 1 racer. Luckily I never got caught because I probably wouldn't be writing this blog post because I would have never got my license. When I finally got my license I remember just go out to San Francisco and drive around at night thinking about what's on my mind. Passing the Golden Gate Bridge through Van Ness Ave. around Fisherman's Wharf.

My realistic dream car.

I LOVE HOUSE MUSIC

  
If you've ever seen my in the halls after school or outside before school starts you'll probably see me with my headphones, it's because I LOVE music. I like all types music but the genre of music I'm really into is called house.

 So you're probably wondering what house music is right? Well........house music is basically the music that goes " DOOSH DOOSH DOOSH DOOSH DOOSH" over and over again. No, but really, house music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s it usually doesn't have any lyrics that are meaningful just a catchy beat.

     Many people think House is mindless and you don't need any brains to listen to it but this is my take on it: music is made to be danced to. if you want lyrics and meanings read a book or listen to poetry. Mozart didn't need lyrics as it is suppose to be the music that tells the story. lyrics are just there to explain what the music means to those who lack imagination. House music is about emotions and the feeling of the Moment. Think of it like a piece of classical music or art it can mean different things to everyone but they all just appreciate the beauty of it.

Just for laughs:

Fit & Healthy

      It's almost scary what some people especially the kids at this school put in their body's with almost no physical activity. I've only recently started taking care of my health, I'm still not that old, but I've started to feel the results of years of abusing my body. After some personal research these are some tips I can give you:

NUTRITION

#1 Change the white rice you eat to brown rice

#2 Switch to leaner meats.( No more samgyeopsal!)

#3 Balance the food you eat

#4 Take a multivitamin and Omega-3 fatty fish oil

#5 Look at the nutrition facts on the back of packaged foods

#6 If your on a budget, eat at home, don't eat that  ramen or ddukbokgi that has nothing but empty calories( alot of empty calories)

#7 WATER!!!!! drink lots of water. 2 litres of water a day is the recomended healthy amount.

#8 Don't skip meals and try to eat 3 meals a day.

                  EXCERCISE

#1 Join a sport's team, fitness center, take private lessons

#2 Make a schedule, on how many days to go a week and the amount of hours

#3 Don't break the habit

#4 Get a friend to join you!

#5 Make it fun

#6 Measure your progress, how much weight you loss, how much muscle you gained.

                      Hygeine

#1 Shower daily, you may not smell yourself but others can

#2  Wear clean clothes

#3 Try to brush your teeth after everytime you eat

#4 Keep nails trimmed and clean

#5 Wash your face and use a good toner and lotion

        After using these tips you will look and feel better!

            

               My favorite thing to do in my free time like I said in my previous post is martial arts, particularly kickboxing. Many people consider it dangerous and barbaric but I personally think its the most spiritual sport out there.I've tried alot of sports in my life and theres nothing that gets my adrenaline pumping, and sweating like kickboxing. Two guys standing in a ring taking hits back and forth. A connection of the mind, body, and soul.

               To give a little information about the origins of my favorite sport: People have been kicking and punching each other since the beginning of time. But, the more refined and disciplined martial art originated from Thailand. It's called Muay Thai and it was brought over to Japan where they named the sport "Kickboxing" and then brought over to the US where it caught the worlds attention.