Halfway and Turning the Corner

It’s a shocker but I’ve officially reached the halfway point in my contract. Now, looking ahead at the second leg, it doesn’t seem so daunting as it did about a week ago.

I’ve kept plenty of notes on the nonsense here that is teaching in Korea. So instead, maybe I should reflect by recognizing how lucky I am.

There are so many ways that things could go wrong. There are so many ways to break a man. And I’ve been battered but I’m not broken yet.

Things can change from bad to worse overnight. Your whole life can be turned upside down and shaken while you're sleeping unsuspectingly. Any day could be the day that's become your turn to pack your bags and head to the airport.

So I should probably give due thanks to everyone and everything that have kept me from losing it here.

In no particular order…

Thank you ISOhunt and UTorrent - for free, unlimited access to everything written, filmed and recorded that I’ve ever wanted.
(I understand that Jessica Alba still won’t do nudes, and that’s not your fault.)

Thanks to Lee Sang Chon at Jeil Music Instrument - for my $70 acoustic guitar that stays in tune and doesn’t make my fingers bleed.

Thanks to Doctor Kim Soo Young – for the medicine that helped me go to the toilet.

Thanks to the gang at DaeJi GoGi Jip – for the best barbecued pork south of the Han River.

Thanks to the gang at Greenland Spa – for the fish that chewed the skin off my feet and the great juggling act in the lounge.

Thanks to Sera – for being everything but my attorney. And I know that if I needed one, you’d somehow do that too.

Thanks to Jim from Leeland County, Michigan – for being cool (I know you’re reading) – but where did you go?

Thanks to Principal Kim – for the job, and the rice.

Thanks to Sandy Teacher – for scaring the kids who don’t listen to me ‘cause I’m white and have a big nose.

Thanks to my Agent Moonju – for getting tough with Mr. Goo.

Thanks to Dwayne for the music – you’re now in my itunes library, photo and all, whether you like it or not.

Thanks to Skype for free international phone calls. I’ll forgive you for the pathetic marketing ads I get from dumb ass sales chicks in China.

Thanks to the Korean Ginseng Root. I’m a believer.

Thanks to those who write. Don’t ever stop. It’s a lost art – and sadly carried on now by celebrities who think that being famous makes their stories interesting. We’re in an age where people don’t even write letters anymore. They play face book games.

Just joking. I am going to add all of the applications eventually. I'm just not ready yet.