Acupuncture

Acupuncture rocks! I threw out my back a few weeks ago - how, I'm not quite sure, although I think it might have had something to do with the climbing and/or excessive yoga that I did shortly before the injury. Anyway, I was really in a lot of pain, and it was hard to move - even sneezing was painful! As a result, I had to get acupuncture, which is a very common form of therapy in Korea. Also, it is extremely cheap! Each session was only 3000 won, which is about 3 Canadian dollars. So for a total of $6.00, I was able to fix my back. It's relatively pain-free, too. The doctor put the needles in my back, and it produced the weirdest sensation - once inserted, I could actually feel the energy of the needles coursing through my veins. Like I said, it wasn't painful, but it was a very different sensation from anything I've ever felt before. Also, each session took only about 20 minutes to complete, and it was actually a very relaxing experience. After the first session, my back was significantly better, and it continued to improve over the course of the next few days. Within 4 days, the pain was completely gone, although there was a minor reoccurrence of pain one week later, but the pain was not very intense, nor did it last longer than a couple of hours. So, my first experience with acupuncture proved to be a pleasant experience. I highly recommend that you give acupuncture a try if the need ever arises.

Poetry Corner

The Lotus-Eaters

"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.
A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke,
Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go;
And some thro' wavering lights and shadows broke,
Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.
They saw the gleaming river seaward flow
From the inner land: far off, three mountain-tops,
Three silent pinnacles of aged snow,
Stood sunset-flush'd: and, dew'd with showery drops,
Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse.

The charmed sunset linger'd low adown
In the red West: thro' mountain clefts the dale
Was seen far inland, and the yellow down
Border'd with palm, and many a winding vale
And meadow, set with slender galingale;
A land where all things always seem'd the same!
And round about the keel with faces pale,
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,
The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.

Branches they bore of that enchanted stem,
Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave
To each, but whoso did receive of them,
And taste, to him the gushing of the wave
Far far away did seem to mourn and rave
On alien shores; and if his fellow spake,
His voice was thin, as voices from the grave;
And deep-asleep he seem'd, yet all awake,
And music in his ears his beating heart did make.

They sat them down upon the yellow sand,
Between the sun and moon upon the shore;
And sweet it was to dream of Fatherland,
Of child, and wife, and slave; but evermore
Most weary seem'd the sea, weary the oar,
Weary the wandering fields of barren foam.
Then some one said, "We will return no more";
And all at once they sang, "Our island home
Is far beyond the wave; we will no longer roam."

Lord Alfred Tennyson

You Know You’re in Korea When...

Ahhh... Korea! What a country. Don't get me wrong, I love living here! The people are friendly, it's a beautiful country with a lot of culture and history, and the food is great! But there are definitely some things about Korea which are at times...mind-boggling!

You know you’re in Korea when...

1. You're 12-years old and you don't go home until 10 pm, and yet when you're unmarried at 25, you have to be home by ten.
2. You cover your mouth when you laugh or smile but not when you cough or sneeze.
3. You think picking your teeth or nose in public isn't polite...unless you oh-so-discreetly do it with one hand to cover up your activity.
4. You think using a tissue to blow your nose in public is rude, but spitting or doing a one-nostril “farmer’s blow” onto the sidewalk is perfectly fine.
5. After going to the washroom, you “wash” your hands for 1 second under ice-cold water and dry them in your hair.
6. You describe any girl over 120 pounds as "fat."
7. You jump out of the shower at the local gym and stand naked in front of the mirror blow-drying your family jewels.
8. You are not satisfied with your meal unless kimchi is served with it.
9. You push your way onto the subway or elevator before the people get out.
10.In the winter you wear short skirts, but in the summer you cover all skin with jeans and a sweater and head for the beach…and swim fully clothed.
11.You stare like a blinded deer in headlights at anyone different.