Korean Health Clubs

From the archive, March 2007:

Today I joined a health club right next to Sogang's campus. I know I scared the uniformed reception clerk. Her outfit was like that of a hotel reception clerk. No sweats or workout clothes. She didn't speak English, but I could see from the chart pasted on the desk how much a membership for 3 months would be.

She got a man to help explain everything. The most complicated part was their key system. I was given two locker keys. One's electronic and every time I go will open the locker the receptionist tells me. That will change. The other key will open my locker, #67.

The man gave me a tour and had one of the members give me a tour of the ladies' locker room. The club is open from 6am - 11pm, that he managed in English. (He knew more English than he realized.)

Here's the procedure: go to the locker room, taking off your shoes first, and get the correct size ugly cotton T-shirt and shorts. Pink for women; baby blue for men. Change clothes, and get a towel.

The work out machines are like in the US. The treadmill actually has a fan you can turn on when you start perspiring. There's a big driving range for golfers in addition to the workout room and exercise classes.

One thing that was different was that men paid more than women ($30 difference). I'm not sure why. It could be that the men get more weight machines. Probably three times more. The men's machines have black seating; the women pink, of course.

I'm looking forward to de-stressing here on a regular basis.

From the Archive

Originally posted on March 16, 2007

Good Grief
Our latest mission is to jazz up the names of our courses. Intermediate Reading is just too boring. (Not to mention that intermediate means between two different levels and we don't have a beginning or advanced reading - that's escaped people's notice.)

I'm playing with Sex (and reading) in the City.

Any other ideas?

My observation that "reading" doesn't bore people who enjoy it was dismissed.

Today a student shed light on this move. She went to a seminar on study skills. The instructor mentioned that when it was called Better Study Techniques, few people came to this free event.

When they changed the name to (the misleading) How to Get an A+, the sessions were packed. Given that there's a strict grading curve and it's impossible for everyone to get an A+, I see a problem. I may be alone.

Originally Posted in Sept. 2010

September 12, 2010

Still NO VISA

Okay, now I'm anxious. I thought for sure the visa would be in today's mail, if not yesterday's. I need the passport and visa to go. I hate the idea of having to change this flight again. I have half a mind to just not go and find a different job as much as I'm tired of all this job hunting and waiting.

I'm especially put off because the department Coordinator refused to come pick me up at the bus station. We've gone back and forth on this request. I've said that I'd really appreciate some help with my bags and finding the way to a new place after being on the road so long. I'll leave my house at 5am if not before to get on a 7am flight to San Francisco followed by an 11 hour flight to Seoul. Then I have to get a 2 hour bus to a town near my small town. That's when I'd like to have a welcome and someone to take the reins.

Nope.

I even offered to pay the Coordinator for her time and the cab. She refused.

I suppose they just don't do this, though every other job I've had does. In China and Japan several people met the new teachers and we didn't have to touch our bags. In Korea the first time two people met me at the airport. It's just nice to see such people and relax about a new endeavor. I really thought this young girl would be happy to make some extra money.

The thought I have is if I don't get this help, does it mean that I won't get other help at KNUE.

Yes, that's exactly what the refusal meant.

Found this Email I wrote

Dear Dr. Lee,

I feel I should be honest about the apartment. I find it so hard to live in such a dark, dirty room. I was so surprised, shocked in fact, when I first saw it because the condition of the old, uncomfortable fixtures and furnishes, is so far below what I've had in Japan, Sogang, China or even Indonesia, which is a Third World country. I just was to shocked to speak up, but now as I see that living in it is making me so sad, I feel I need to say something.

Can I move to the student dorms? Is there another place on campus that's any better?

I have attached photos of my teacher housing in China. I can get a colleague to send a picture of the bedroom if you'd like. I can also collect photos of other Korean teachers' on campus housing to see where we stand.

I just think that by offering, simple, yet clean rooms, it makes us feel respected and helps us contribute to the further success of the KNUE program.

I'd like to speak with you on Friday briefly about a solution.

Sincerely,

Susan