okay, back to the usual shinola...

as you may recall, i recently have come into co-owning a private english institute here in gangneung. now, our school isn't the biggest, nor the best, nor does it bring in the most income for its partners, but it is the most concerned for the students' well-being and their balancing of studies and leisure when it comes to learning english and practising it. our school isn't as concerned with putting asses in the seats at all costs in order for phillip and me to become monstrously and grotesquely wealthy. we want to have an income that's suitable for our lifestyles while at the same time creating an atmosphere that's comfortable for our younger and adult students alike.

(holy fucking orion belt, did that opening paragraph not sound like the beginning of a saccharine-flavoured heartwarming tv commercial? what the hell has come over me...? excuse me while i go reposition my lunch, kick a butterfly, lift hubcaps from imported cars, and shoot innocent kids playing in the street--oh, wait, sorry, i'm not a xenophobic, racist, dumbass israeli soldier, so strike that last one).

anyhow, our school decided to host a party last friday night so that our adult students could mingle with one another, have some chow and drinks, and meet some of the other english teachers lurking around gangneung so our students don't always have to put up with our ugly mugs and our fucked-up english ("our mugs" being phillip's mug and my mug, of course, and also carlos's, who happens to fart around three times a week at our school allegedly teaching one of our adults' classes). this get-together was something that the school did several times last summer, but had been suspended once the weather got to be chillier back in october and, thus, last friday's was the first one of the year.

we weren't sure what to expect since it was the first one of 2006. we arranged for it to be held at a nearby pub because if it were not within walking distance, it might lessen the chances that some students would come. happily, surprisingly, there were about ten that showed up. additionally, we had put out the word to most of the teachers (and i think there were some we forgot to invite--my sincere apologies; we won't forget you next time) and nearly 20 of them showed up, which was delightful. after the students and teachers all got some soju and beer in them--and a little bit of whiskey, as well--tongues started loosening, buttons started popping, the colours started blending, walls razed and nerves eased, clothes ripped off and thrown into corners in fits of lust...wait, got carried away there. anyhow, it turned into a damn fine night.

thanks to all who came, students and teachers alike. it was good for the koreans to meet other non-koreans and it was good for the teachers who only teach kids to have a chance to talk with grownups, even if some of those grownups were speaking english at a childlike level. sincerest cheers to all of you who helped make the night the spectacle it turned out to be. check out some of the photos below:

*warning: the quality of these photographs may be less than expert due to any, all of, or none of the following reasons:

1. the photographer was jostled every time he snapped a photo

2. the camera was left out in the rain overnight

3. there were too many christmas lights still up

4. rory, in oz, shot a wallaby and i was still in mourning

5. there was soju in the photographer's eye...

6. ...but none in his glass

7. a butterfly in brasil flapped its wings

8. the chinese and american governments stunned the world by issuing lie-free official statements

9. i saw elvis and hitler sitting in a tree, eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches

is that a star shining on nick or is he just happy to eat?
it's still christmas?
dylan grows red with rage when his former student opines that his english is now better than dylan's

a poll of 100,000 people revealed that no one knows exactly what this hand gesture actually means
in an unusual turn of events, the koreans are smiling more widely than the non-koreans
april, my wife, and julia taking a smoke break

dylan and michael auditioning for their roles in "peter pan"
only one of these people got the memo to strike a blurry pose