Korea (I've got Seoul)

[Franklint]

R Cohrs,

Please don't stop your diary entries. I am just loving them. It seems stupid to say the same thing after each of your posts, but just know what I'm keeping an eye on this thread with much interest. I really respect a man who knows what he wants to do (at least in the short term) and goes halfway around the world to experience something.

It sounds like you're having an excellent time, but that soju incident must have been really nasty. I'm extremely glad you didn't die of alcohol poisoning . Nice death match win. Very noble of you to return your winnings, but your opponent shouldn't have accepted them (it?) as all RPS decisions are final. I'm sure you can patch things up at your host house.

Great to hear there's some RPS talent coming out of the Korean circles. The fact that RPS skill is making itself obvious in the students at such a young age bodes well for the sport. Bloody Asians. Dominating anything requiring mental skill .

Hell, cutting homework for RPS wins is a fantastic idea. I'd take a teacher up on the offer any day.

Keep the entries coming, and enjoy the rest of your trip!

Cheers,
Franklint

[custardchuk]

Sounds like you're where you want to be, Cohrs.

If it was me, I'd be cutting you because you gave the money back, not because you drank too much. Seriously, dude. "Which would offend you most?"

I rest my case.

regards
custardchuk

[R Cohrs]

I considered it more as a donation because my hosts bought dinner, all the liquor for the night, and the taxi.  I'm American, so most of us aren't used to such generosity, as we almost always pay for ourselves.  Different societal norms.  But yeah, in retrospect I should've made him double it a couple times and took him for a run. 

I finally beat one of the kids in my class about 7-2.  Took the little guy for a run!

Glad to see all is well 

[custardchuk]

I don't know, Cohrs.
It's one thing to have manners but you mix your work and your pleasure at your peril.
If you were to buy my dinner then you would expect, maybe, for me to give you a free throw in a best of five?

I wouldn't hold my breath.

regards
custardchuk

[R Cohrs]

chuk you know you're way too generous for anyone's own good.  I suppose you don't believe in the tried and true hustler method of being overly kind for a couple matches before going in for the real kill.  And I'll buy you dinner for sure next time, I hear what you're saying   

On the Korean side of things I finally got some necessities like a cell phone and a mini-oven today.  Definitely a good one.  So I hate cell phones and have only owned one for a few months before, but I actually like this one; it picks up TV and radio with an antenna, besides pics and MP3s and I think you can call people too.  Since I haven't bought a TV yet it's a pretty cool feature for me, and I bought it used for 80,000 won (less than $80).  Prepaid so no contract.  Probably the only time I'll ever brag about a phone, but rock on Korean technology. 

Still playing the streets here; expect the bodies to mount.

[custardchuk]

I guess if you decide you don't like the phone you can stick it in the mini oven........

Now you can make your own pizzas. (I'm assuming that your last employer let you in on that secret).

regards
custardchuk

[R Cohrs]

Pizzas    I know the secret of course; don't frickin put corn on a pizza!  Why does Asia believe in the horrible English style of pizza    I invented the buffalo wing sandwich at the last job; boneless wings, mozarella, tomatos, and a few jalapenos on a sub bun.  So good my mouth's watering now!

Still raining here and still stuck inside with a room full of kids playing Starcraft.  Also still advertising this place wearing my "your paper... will bring us victory shirt." 

By the way chuk thanks again for the Aussie shirt.  A teacher I work with is from Australia and was quite impressed when I wore it.  I'll show him the ropes to give you some competition when he goes back. 

[rhymeswithsausage]

If you want to blend in a little, grab yourself some Starcraft.  I'll dig up my old disc and take you on.  I'm not any good, but it will impress any natives looking over your shoulder when they see how soundly you defeat me.

I'm really enjoying your travelogue, but don't have much to contribute except "That sounds great- keep us updated!"  I sympathize with the drinking trouble- I got real messed up at Urbanus' RPS event at the minor league baseball park.  Mostly good times, from what I recall...

[R Cohrs]

I don't know too much about Starcraft; my computer never could handle that hi-tech of a game; and yes that's way sad.  I should ask one of the kids here to show me; there's quite a few kids in the PC cafe even at midnight on Sunday.  For now I'll stick to the DS.

I'm on vacation for 7 more days.  I thought it would be super-boring, but I met a couple more people and it's been fun.  Today I went to Lotte world, a small but decent amusement park.  Lines were too long but it was fun.  Yesterday was bar times, and I did see some people playing kai bai bo for firsts in darts.  And the day before I had dinner with the company, and I ate my first hermit crab.  I used to have them as pets when I was a kid, so I was a bit conflicted.  They tast ok, nothing special, just like a muscle or other spongy sea creature; I personally didn't see much point in eating them, but I'm not a big fan of crawfish either.

As the emissary for World RPS in Korea, anyone know where some tourney or big action is at?  I'm working on the street, but some pro competition would be nice.  Google's "surprisingly" unhelpful so far. 

[R Cohrs]

Hi all,
   Vacation went by too fast and it's back to work.  I started an extra class for the next few weeks, so my board time is severely limited.  I'm still teaching the kids the basics of the game; actually been playing RPS quite a lot in classes.  The kids were pretty impressed when I wore my RPS shirt yesterday; always a good conversation starter. 

   My world in Korea is slowly expanding as I meet new people, see new places, eat food other than the fast kind.  A highlight came a couple weeks ago when I bought a guitar; I'm ecstatic to be able to play my own brand of music again, and I've already written several new songs.  One song I posted on Garageband.com won most original of the week last month.  Even though it's still about 450th out of 680, it was a thrill for me considering my budget was less than most people spend on a couple nice meals.  My goal is to record a "real album" with good equipment in the next couple of years, and this job's helping me earn the $ for the dream.

  So to sum up, I'm still spreading my hopes and dreams across the planet, and you better believe I'm working on the throws in the meantime.   

[R Cohrs]

Yesterday I began training a feisty new up-and-comer to the sport.  She's a fellow teacher travelling here from Virginia, and is quite the fierce competitor.  After blasting her out of the water in the first match, she took me down 10-4 in a first to ten, winning some won (korean currency, pronounced with an ah sound) in the process.  She took another low-stakes game with her choice of first to 5, winning 5-4.  She not only heeded my advice, but cleverly used my own words as subterfuge to end up with the edge.  There's still a bit of weakness to her game, but as you can tell her natural talent helps to smooth this over. 

I've also been playing group RPS against the kids quite a bit lately.  There's a lot of untapped talent in this country, nice to be on the scene.

[rhymeswithsausage]

We on Team David Bowie's Package have noticed that the female competitors in the Pabst Blue Ribbon Philadelphia Rock Paper Scissors City League Championship Series have two distinct advantages over their male counterparts, and are therefore distractingly difficult to defeat.  Be careful going up against that fellow teacher, Cohrs.  You might just lose your shirt...

[ScissorSista]

Are you going to the world championships this year Rhymes With Sausage? If so I'll take you on and we'll test your theory...

[R Cohrs]

Sista!  Nice to see you back.  rhymes, you nailed my strategical dilemna perfectly 

Just learned a new style of Korean RPS.  Whoever wins the throw calls out another throw or makes another throw.  If the winner plays Rock and the loser also plays Rock, then the winner still wins.  Paper and Scissors simply become a rematch.  This variation has a lot to do with who leads.  If you lead and your opponent matches your throw, you win.  If you follow your opponent's lead and match their throw, you lose.  It's very simple but hard to explain properly, but I hope this helps bring a new twist to the classic game. 

It also reminds me of Japanese style where you point after a throw.  If your opponent looks in the same direction, you win.  If they look somewhere different you lose.

Both techniques can really help show you just how connected 2 people can get playing the sport, especially when they are really focused.

[Maxamillion]

we are not completely dead yet mate.

keep the updates coming

love to here grass roots world news from our own adventurer.

stay cool Max