COMMUNITY 1 8 FRIDAY DECEMBER 11, 2009 Expat Living is a section dedicated to the daily living of expatriates. It is printed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. To share stories about your life abroad, s end stories or story ideas to Matthew Lamers at [email protected] Submissions may be edited for length or clarity. “The International Hub of Podcasting” SeoulPodcast, sponsored by — Not your grandfather’s internet radio show. See SeoulPodcast.com By Rob Ouwehand What ’ s not t o like about social dan cing? It’s go od exercise, it ’s fun, it’s satisfying to learn a new move and it’s a non-threatening way to meet people who are gen- erally active and adventurous, as long as one has the courage to ask a person for a dance and even that gets easier every time. At the same time, dancing swing, salsa, meringue or cha- cha with a partner is a chance to chat and make a new friend. In this writ er’s experience, asking a stran ger to dance is muc h eas- ier than approachi ng a stran ger in a bar and dancing together has far fewer expectations or suspicions attached to it than buying someone a drink: it might be one of the best ways out there t o meet new people . When Sara Rose f irst came to Korea, there was a large foreign dance community that used to meet regularly to do Latin dances like salsa, meringue and cha-cha. Not many Koreans joined in, but times were still good. When she came back after four years away, a lot of the Puerto Rican soldiers who first led the Latin dance groups had been transferred away and the foreign dance community was not doing as well as the sudden- ly booming Korean Latin-dance network. Now, there were a lot of places to go dancing, but expat s didn’t always know how to find them. To remedy this, Sara started a website called KISS: Korea International Salsa Social, at www.korealatinandsalsa.com, where people can join, get direc- tions in English, connect and arran ge nights out at t he diff er- ent Latin dance cl ubs in Korea. One of the joys of joining a dancing community is the con- stant learning: even beginners can have a good time asking people to bear with them as they learn the steps. After ask- ing a few people to dance, that nervous reservation disap- pears and Sara assures me that in a single night, open- minded (read: don’t be a wall- flower) novices can learn enough of an unfamiliar step to enjoy their time. Later, after learning the dances better, the opportunity to pass on the fa- vor and spend a few songs teaching another novice, cre- ates a nice give and take where dancers are almost always ei- ther teaching or learning a new dance move. Most dancers are generous about teaching peopl e a t urn or two: everybody remembers when they were the new one and t he satisfaction of learning a new turn, twist or trick is huge and cumulative, so that each night of dancing is more fun than the last. If even learning from part- ners sounds intimidating, the Korean International Salsa Social site includes information on when and where beginner classes, workshops, lessons and private sessions are available, for prices that vary according to the level and size of the group, but are quite reasonable any way you slice them. Even better, many of the tutors and teachers giving lessons are among Korea’ s top competitive Lat in dancers, so the quality of in- struction is top shelf. It’s actually sur prising how much Latin dance there is in Korea if one knows where to look: between Facebook and the website, there are about 400 group members now and just in Seoul there are 10 different clubs where people regularly meet, as well as places in Busan, Daegu and other cities across the country. The dancing community wel- comes anyone, both Koreans and expats a nd it’s a tight group: that is, familiar faces show up from one club to the next, from one weekend to the next, so that friendships are easy to form and maintain and it gets easier asking for a dance from a person you know. Even better, the fact that everybody knows each other a little helps the atmosphere in the Latin dance cl ubs to remain quite positive: the kind of drunken groping that makes some kinds of clubs unappeal- ing is extremely rare in dances with precise steps like salsa, tango and so forth, even more so when people know the other dancers and remember their faces. Rather, the Latin dance clubs welcome all ages and though drinks might be con- sumed, nobody wants to get drunk enough to accidentally step on somebody’s toes, so the kinds of sce nes that oc cur at al- cohol-centered clubs when drunk egos clash also rarely happen in the Latin Dance Clubs. If Latin dancing sounds fun to you, this is a good time to act on the interest: the Korea Inter nat ional Salsa Social’s year-end party is coming up this Saturday, Dec. 12 at The Hive in Itaewon: th ere’s more informat ion at the website and, of course, newcomers are wel- come to join up, meet some peo- ple, get some exercise and learn a few new steps, all at the same time. If you know of an expat com- munity that deserves to be fea- tured in this column, e-mail ro- boseyo@ gmail .com; you can read more of Rob’ s writin gs at http:/ / robos eyo. blogspo t.com — Ed. KISS your way to bett er he alth Orpheus Allison Sunchang, North Jeolla Province — Y our columns h ave been in- teresting in providing a focal point for those of us new to the Korean Maelstr om. Y es, there do seem to be a disproportionate number of articles on English teachers. I am one of that group. However, I have appreciated your efforts to provide a sound- ing board for those teachers who are trying to meet th e insatiable demand that Korean Society has placed on a foreign language. I would be more interested in find- ing stories about teachers who come from non-traditional back- grounds. I worked in Broadcast television in the U.S. for 18 years before I began teaching. I use a variety of techniques and skills that are not part of traditional teaching courses. Most notably I am u sing Shakespear e’ s Romeo and Juliet and other plays as teaching tools. Many of my Korean colleagues remark on the fact that the language is old and that it is beyond the capability of my students. I did this with Chinese students and it netted time for me in a graduate pro- gram in En gland. I suspect that par t of the issue is the expectations of schools, parents, and society not easily defined yet demanding a scien- tific approach that can be mea- sured. Schizoid demographics are certainly not new but the in- terpretat ion is. I would appreci- ate more insight int o the people behind the titles or the head- lines. And I would like to know more about what has brought the foreign population to Korea. Not all of us are motivated by money. I have to be honest, the pay here in Korea is better t han what I received in China. But I was also freer in China to take on small short term jobs that opened opportunities for later work without affecting my visa. This allowed me to return honor to my patron in many ways be- yond the classroom. It would be nice to learn of programs that we can bring into our classroo ms. I know tha t th e U.S. military does do some classroom work on a voluntary basis. But what about compa- nies that have a vested interest in our students a major issue is that my students do not see a connection between their school work and the future. It would also be really nice if there could be a regular calendar of when schools and districts do testing and it also would help if we could compare programs offered by the expat teachers. Keep doing the great job you are doing. You are h elping to build a better future. By Eoghan Ryan The passing of a close friend recently drew into focus the wrenching hurt that a major change in life can cause. As a person who generally seeks out and t hrives on chan ge (I’ ve lived in five countries in five years), I’ ve valued all t hings new, and often to the detriment of the old and the neglect of loved ones. New countries, cities, jobs, friends, lovers, all fire the rest- less mind and revamp the list- less soul; at least they have for this oft-bo red Ir ishman. All moves have, by degree, been by choice. With each change there have been ele- ments of excitement, trepida- tion and melancholy. But this most severe of losses has done several things to change the way I view my lifestyle and those I share it with. With the gr ief fo r t he loss of my friend has come melancholy and nostalgia for losses of a different kind. My moves and adventures may have upgra ded my life expe - rience, the size of my pool of friends, or at least my bank of stories to be told at the bar on a Friday night. But, I have also seen significant downgrades, losses which were grieved. Some losses are abrupt but most are more gradual. From lover with a future, to boyfriend, to acquaintance, to chapter in the h istory book; from daily co n- tact to occasio nal Faceboo k com- ment; from ever present to wor- thy of a visit some time. The fre- quent buzzing of the phone, to the point of annoyance, falls away t o stoic silence. The hollow echo of those names contained within can ring loud sometimes. In swells and troughs these transitions from times of plenty to famine and back, rise and fall. With noteworthy exceptions, the relationships that replace the lifelong ones left at home drift away, downgraded by dis- tance, indifference, choice and, well, life. Last month for the first time in five years I considered mov- ing back to Ireland. The uncon- ditional support of friends and family after my friend’s death was a sight to behold, the very best of people at the very worst of times. But yet I choose not to live among them. So, back to my expat life I have come and de- spite that traveler’ s instinct to cut and run, here I am going to stay. There are only so many times you can leave good people behind and start again. A friend I co ntacted recently following the breakup of her marriage commented that she was thankful for the message as it seemed some people thought that heartbreak was contagious. Heartbreak is not contagio us but it does allow for a clarity that adds to your appreciation of the relationships that remain. Be they back h ome, or in one’ s new home, those tha t don’ t drift away and are not downgraded should be valued. Any temptation to feel bitter- ness towar ds those who’ve f aded away is negated by an under- standing that they have lives to live, priorities to manage, aspi- rations to pursue. Equally, by leaving, by moving on, I’ve gen- erally been th e catalyst for an y downgrading of relationships, so the responsibility lies only with me. So, for now this expat is not leaving. I’ m sta ying here. Instinct tells me that upgrading the appr eciation for what I’v e got is the way forward. The author can be reached at ryan.eoghan@gmail.com — Ed. Seoul Players kicked of the winter season in November with a new comedy entitled “Black Comedy” at Roofers in Itaewon. Featuring a multi-national cast from the United States, Canada, England and New Zealand, the production fea- tures a clev er script and physi- cal comedy which can be en- joy ed by all au diences, including those whose first language may not be English. “Black Comedy” is a farce by English playwright Peter Schaffer and the last three per- formances are tonight at 9 p.m. and tomorrow night at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The storyline follows a young couple who decide to host a par- ty with borrowed furniture, only to experience a blackout as guests arrive. Finding their way around in the “dark” — while being com- pletely visible to the audience — oddball characters show up throughout the evening to join them in bumping into furniture and each other. Seoul Players has been around since 2001 and has al- ways provided theatre in English-language for the expat and Korean audiences. Seoul Players remains a not-for-profit organiz ation that puts on shows for the benefit of the community and love of the theater. Tickets are 15,000 won, and Seoul Players recommends re- serving in advance via e-mail at blackcomed [email protected]. From Itaewon Station (Exit 3), walk straight and turn right after Dunkin Donuts. Roofers is located on the second floo r, a 1-2 minute walk up the hill on the right, across from King Club. ([email protected]) PHOTO CHALLENGE — weekly winner (top) — It’s orange season on Jeju-do. The fruits are plentiful in the markets as orchard farmers on the island are busy har- vesting gamgyul during November and December. Katharine Rusk PHOTO CHALLENGE — monthly winner (left) — Anguk Subway Station, Seoul is photographed in the mornin g Seo ul. The theme this month was “point and shoot.” Aaron Brown Here and now is way forward Seoul Players present Black Comedy RE: Death, racism, kimchi N ow,the re we re a l o t o f pl ac es to go dancing,bu t expats di dn’t a lw ay s know how to fi nd them. Toremedy th is ,Sara st arted a websit e c all ed KISS: K o rea In te rnati on al S al sa So ci al , at www. korea latinand- sals a.co m, w here pe op le c an j oi n, ge t d i rectio ns in Engli s h , connect and arrange nights out at th e diffe rent Latin dan ce clubs in Korea . I susp ect tha t part o f the issue is the expectati on s o f s choo ls, parents,and society not e a si ly define d yet demand- ing a scientif- i c approach that can be measured. Sch i zoid de- m ogr aph i c s a re certa in ly not new bu t th e in te rpre- tati on is.I w ou ld appre- c i ate more i n- sight into the peop le be- hind the titles or the h ead- li ne s. The Photo Challenge The Photo Challenge is sponsored by Hyosung Camera (English: 010-7203- 9599) and Babo Shirts (www.baboshirts.com). Winners of the week ly co mpe- tition receive a 50,000 won store credit at Hyosung Camera and a Babo Shirt. To take part in the competition, simply upload your photo at www.flickr.com/groups/ seoulphotoclub — Ed. LETTER TO EDITOR