Between Friends - Chingusai

According to the Final Draw which took place in Busan on December 1, it was decided which countries would play a match in Daegu. As a result, Denmark and Senegal will play a match on June 6 at 3:30 p.m., South Africa and Slovenia on June 8 at 3:30 p.m., and Korea and the U.S.A. on June 10 at 3:30 p.m. It will be exciting and terrific to participate in this historic event! So why don't you join us at the Daegu World Cup Stadium to cheer-on the players while treating yourself to some world class football?

Daegu City's Tour Bus Program which began operation on December 2, 2000, has been popular among citizens and foreigners with its kind staff and many conveniences. The best thing about it? It was free for all guests (except admission fees to visited attractions). According to a ruling of the Daegu Metropolitan Election Commission, however, the free bus tour program is contrary to Korean Election Law. Consequently, the Daegu Facilities Management Corporation changed its service by charging citizens as of December 15, 2001. But the City Tour Bus Program is still free for foreign residents and tourists! Also, it is in service seven days a week with small periodic changes in the routes. For more information, please logon to the web sites, http://www.daegutour.or.kr or http://www.dgsisul.or.kr. Or, you can contact the Daegu Tourist Information Center at 053-627-8900.

A whole new year is waiting for you. Don't you think it's a good time to make plans, especially for the events in which you'll participate? Here are some of the upcoming important events for this year. Every Saturday and Sunday there's the ringing ceremony of the Dalgubeol Grand Bell at 3 p.m. at the Gukchae-bosang Memorial Park. From March 13 to 16 there's going to be an international textile fair "Preview In Daegu" at the EXCO Daegu. From April 25 to 30 there's the Mt. Biseulsan Azalea Festival, and at the end of the month the International Palgong Mountain Bike Race will take place. In May, the Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Market Festival and Dongseongno Festival will be waiting for you from May 7 to 12, and again from May 10 to 12, respectively. Regarding the World Cup, the World Cup Plaza will be in operation from May 27 to June 30 where you can purchase World Cup souvenirs and get information about the football games. In addition to these are various other events and activities for you to enjoy. Why don't you mark them in your calendar? For more info, please logon to the web sites http://www.daegu.go.kr or http://tour.daegu.go.kr.

Professional basketball games of the Korean Basketball League are getting interesting. Daegu's home team is the Tong Yang Orions, and its players are doing great. Don't just hide yourself in your room because it's too cold to go out. Visit the Daegu Gymnasium to enjoy exciting basketball games. Here is their schedule in Daegu.

※ The ticket cost is 6,000 won for adults and 4,000 won for students. Tickets can be purchased on the spot starting 4 hours before the game. Also, tickets are available at the Housing & Commercial Banks and post offices in advance.

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There's a bar in my neighborhood called In My Memory. Whenever I'm feeling a little blue and lonely I take myself there. It's one of those cozy little places that rarely fill up. I usually sit at the bar and observe the staff and guests. Like many of the restaurants I visit, I always order the same food off the menu, thinking, once you've found a good thing, why take any chances. Sometimes when you order in a strange restaurant, let's face it, you just don't know what you're going to get.

Behind the bar is a large record collection. Yeah, records, LP's, like, old, vinyl, eh? I look over the wood and squint to make out some titles. Neil Young, I spy. The bartender also works as the DJ; two temporary jobs I once held in a unique personal history that has guided me here and now. As is the custom he pays little attention to me, smokes, and talks with a friends and a co-worker. So I squint harder, and he smokes. Finally I motion to him for a pen and paper. I write down my requests; Neil, and Joni Mitchell. He has them, but no New Order, who I wasn't really in the mood for anyway, but was just testing the scope of his collection. He presents me with the albums as they were first issued.

It was nostalgic just to look over the covers and remember the tunes. I pointed out the cuts I wished to hear. He queued them up. He even sang those first three lyrics. "Four strong winds..." I glanced up at him in surprise, and a realization I briefly tried to escape instantly returned: He's Korean and he doesn't have a clue what it means, who Neil is, or where he's from. It's a twilight zone moment. Oh yeah, I'm not at home, this isn't Canada, and I'm not dreaming about a yellow brick road, wearing glass slippers, or own a dog named Toto. I"m in Siji, Shin-Mae Dong, Daegu, Korea! "That blow lonely..." Then it became hard to choke back the tears. It's been over a year straight now, on to my second contract. Though no longer a youth, I get homesick just like it was my first time to summer camp, like that first trip abroad, like the young people out here to serve in the military, and the recent graduates; fellow English teachers. The guys at the bar can sense my sorrow and show me the courtesy of moving themselves discreetly toward the kitchen, exchanging low tones I can't make out regardless. "Now the good times are all gone..." I remember friends and family I left at home and the good life I had and could be having. "And I"m bound for movin' on..." I know I made the right decision in coming here, despite the difficulties. Things in my DJ bartender kinda life had to get turned around if they ever would, and as random choice would have it, Korea was the place.

The recent crisis in the news might be contributing to these feelings too. Maybe it just makes you more aware of your foreign identity, or mortality, or something. But it's not all bad here. I am a celebrity. When I walk down the street, people always want to meet me. At In My Memory I'm invited behind the bar to look over the owner's record collection. And this music library is second to none, in Daegu. They can make a great steak here too, reintroduced to my diet after a ten-year absence by a combination of necessity and laziness. One must weigh the benefits against that costly homesickness. Back in a decent mood I return to my annoying habit of improvising the lyrics to old tunes. "Think I'll head out to Korea, got some friends I've never met there, I'll reimburse you if you fly it out this way..." but few people are flying these days. Maybe I'll go home for a visit next summer. I figure two or three weeks there and I'll be bored out of my skull and dying to come back.

Now I can laugh again about the crazy choices I've made in life, and vow to continue to shuffle the deck. Thanks Neil, In My Memory.

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Have you ever thought about reincarnation? Do you believe that your dreams can predict your future? If you already know of certain paths that you must travel in your life -- your so-called destiny -- will you follow them to wherever they may lead? Korean society is deeply integrated with supernatural beliefs such as the theory of divination based on topography, reincarnation, fortune telling, palm reading, etc. Maybe many people think that these notions are outlandish and make no sense in 2002. But the world in which we live is full of mutual responses of energies and spirits.

Aware of the fact that we fall back to dust after death, our fathers and mothers believed that if we did something bad in one life we might be reborn as animals, insects, or pay some other price in the next life. Likewise, if we did good for others we might be reborn as angels, divine creatures, or again as human beings. Retribution is the keyword of Karma. In extreme cases there will always be good and evil powers pulling at us, and we are liable to yield to vicious temptation or to steadfastly resist its appeal.

Even though we humans can exercise free will, it is not an easy thing to break the circle of destiny. Sometimes the consequence of temptation goes on from generation to generation. The common belief is that if we do something good for others our descendants will have a better life than if we had not been helpful. If there are some people who are having a miserable life without any discernible reason, and there is no hope for any improvement, do you think that it could be their destiny? I am not a fatalist, but I have to admit that there is a certain road we all must walk which is decided by us. And western philosophers seem to agree: As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. (James Allen, 1780s)

Life goes on forever for humankind. But many times it doesn't seem fair to us. The fact that some people are destined for a better life than others; the immutability of this condition shouldn't give us an excuse for neglecting our own life. Even though we might live in one particular circle of destiny, karma, we still have the opportunity to improve and change our providence.

At the end of 2001 I am sure that many people had their fortunes told for the year 2002. Everybody wants to know about their future, but without being responsible for their past there can be no real future for them. But destiny isn't fixed forever. For example, about 10 years from now your destiny will lead you to a certain place or to certain people, and that's all. You can decide your own future and the relationships you have with the people you will meet. Maybe you cannot change the fact that you are destined to go to a certain place, or destined to meet certain people, but besides that everything is up to you. If you want a brighter future, you have to work harder. The Goddess of destiny will smile at you when you do your best with your life. Decide your own destiny! *^^*

It is that time of the year when your body starts craving something warm to fill you up. But this delicious cuisine, tofu soup, can be enjoyed year-round. While searching for food to introduce new and exciting dishes, we all agreed that this tofu soup was a winner. Besides, tofu is good for you and it tastes great, too.

1 piece of tofu, 300g of beef, 2 eggs, 8 pieces of dropwort, 100g of beef, 200g of radish, 1/2 onion, a piece of green onion, 100g of carrots, 3 cups of beef stock, minced garlic, soy sauce, salt, pepper, sesame oil, oil, sesame seeds mixed with salt

Boil 100g of beef and radishes together. Cut them into thin pieces and season. Use the beef stock as soup.
Cut tofu to a thickness of 4cm.
Season 300g of beef.
Use 200g of the beef to make small meatballs.
Cover both sides of the tofu with wheat flour. Place a piece of seasoned beef on one side of tofu and then put another piece of tofu on it, making a little sandwich. Cover with wheat flour and egg and cook in a greased pan.
Clean the dropwort. In this case, use only the dropwort stem. Dip it into boiling water for an instant the tie the cooked tofu with it.
Cover the meatballs with wheat flour and egg. Cook in a greased pan.
Cut onions and carrots into thick pieces. Cut the green onion diagonally.
Add garlic, pepper and salt to beef stock to taste. Boil it.
Place beef, radishes, onions, carrots, and green onions in the bottom of the pot. Then put the fried tofu and meatballs on top of them. Pour some hot beef stock into the pot and boil again. After boiling, break in one egg.

New York New York is one of the western style restaurants that provides a comfortable atmosphere and numerous menu items. One of its attractions is an outdoor patio and garden with a small waterfall. New York New York serves "western grill food" including lots of steaks. It is also renowned for its Italian food. You can choose your pasta noodles in a number of ways such as spaghetti, penne, linguini, fettuccini, fusilli in the price range of 11,000 won to 12,000 won. They also have a kid's menu including soup, salad and dessert.

Appetizers include smoked Norwegian salmon, spring roll, nachos, and various soups and salads. As entrees, grilled beef tenderloin and lobster gratin (35,000 won), beef tenderloin steak w/mushroom sauce (24,000 won), halibut steak w/American sauce (20,000 won) and barbecued pork ribs and fried shrimps (21,000 won). The main menu includes soup, bread, salad and coffee. For desserts your choice includes fresh fruits, ice cream and various cakes.

If you visit New York New York's homepage (http://nyny.co.kr), you can get more information about menu, pictures of the restaurant and a map. Moving pictures of the restaurant are also available.

For the Christmas season they hold a Beaujolais Nouveau Festival. If you order Beaujolais Nouveau wine, you will also receive a Beaujolais Nouveau vintage picture painted by a French artist. You can get a 30% discount coupon for French wine from the restaurant's homepage. A free ride ticket at Woobang Tower Land and Polaroid picture will be provided, too.

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"Yes, my wife wanted to get her dress back, and so I gave it to her to let her wear it for a moment. But on wearing the dress, she flew to heaven with the three babies. What can I do?"

"That's why I told you not to give her the dress back until she has four children."

The woodcutter was so sad that he cried his heart out. At that time, the deer said,

"There is an idea. When a full moon rises, go to the pond where you first saw your wife. There, a large well bucket will descend from heaven. After the loss of a dress last time, the celestial maidens bathe by drawing water from a wall with a bucket, without coming down to the ground. When the bucket comes down, you quickly get on the bucket. Then, you can rise to heaven and meet your wife and kids there."

Finally, as the sun went down and the night came, a full moon rose throwing a light on beautiful Mt. Geumgang. At that moment, a large bucket gently came down from heaven as he was told from the deer.

He quickly got on the bucket. Without knowing anything, someone in the sky pulled up the bucket. At last, he met his beloved wife and children in heaven.

However, since he came to heaven unexpectedly, he felt uneasy about the fact that he couldn't say goodbye to his mother.

'What am I going to do? Mother is waiting for me without knowing that I am here in heaven.'

When the maiden saw her husband worrying about his mother, she brought a horse with white wings.

"Please ride this horse to visit your mother. But you have to remember to never dismount the horse. Because when the rider gets off the horse, it will come back to heaven right away. Then you can never come back to us."

But the woodcutter couldn't come down to the ground. He explained to his mother, holding her hands, what happened to him on the back of the horse.

"Then you can't. But I will feel sorry if you leave like this. Luckily, I made a pumpkin porridge you like. Why don't you have some?"

The woodcutter tried to receive the bowl from her on the back of the horse, but it was too hot and he missed the bowl. As a result, the porridge in the bowl spilled on the back of the horse.

The horse felt hot on his back and jumped to his feet which made the woodcutter fall from the horse. Then the horse flew to heaven as swift as an arrow.

The woodcutter, who couldn't rise to heaven, cried to death looking up the sky where his beloved wife and children live. After death, he became a white rooster.

Since then, it is said that the rooster instinctively crows while looking up the sky.

Now, when the rooster crows looking up the sky on the railings or on the roof, it is because the rooster wants to come closer to the celestial maiden and his children in heaven.

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Have you ever happened to come across the word "Yeong-nam(영남) while reading Korea travel guide books or maps? Yeong-nam means an area which occupies northern and southern Gyeongsang province (a southern part of the nation). Yeong-nam actually means the southern part of Joryeong Pass, which is another name of Mungyeong Saejae Pass. Mungyeong Saejae is said to mean a steep pass even birds hardly fly over, or a place with Eulalia grown thick. As you see, Mungyeong Saejae was a transportation center linking the central area and Yeong-nam area of the nation. It was a strategic point thanks to its precipitous geographical features. The winding pass with its thick pine tree forest was developed into a provincial park in 1981.

Mungyeong Saejae provides a great walking course. You will find three gates while walking: the first gate, Juheul Gwanmun(주흘관문), the second gate, Jogok-gwan(조곡관), and the third gate, Joryeong-gwan(조령관). It is said that every valley and gate in Saejae has its own legend. If you climb up to the third gate, Joryeong-gwan, you can see curvy roads to the mountain. These gates are located in Mt. Juheul which is 1,106m high. It takes about two hours from the first gate to the 6.5m long third gate by walking. Opening time is 7:40 am and the admission fee is 1,900 won for adults.

A time capsule is buried in the square of Juheul-gwan, scheduled to be opened on October 23, 2396, the 500th anniversary of Gyeongsang buk-do province.

There are many neighboring tourist attractions including Mungyeong Saejae Museum. Then, a place worth visiting while you're nearby is the open set of a famous TV drama, "King Taejo, Wang Geon. It is located behind the first gate, Juheul-gwan, where the Goryeo Dynasty's traditional village is reenacted for the drama. This drama set is the largest of the area's open sets. You can witness Goryeo and Baekje Dynasties' palaces, the ruling party's village, and a commoners' house of the Goryeo dynasty. One reason for the set being located here is due to its geographical advantage of being surrounded by a fortress and mountains. Except on the shooting day (when the set is closed to visitors) sightseers can experience the houses and lifestyles of people from the Unified Silla Dynasty. Before going to the set, it is recommended to check the schedule.

Mt.Joryeong Natural Forest, Mungyeong Coal Museum, Ssanreung Valley, Bongamsa Temple, Yeogung Waterfall, Saejae Valley, Heguksa Temple, Chungju Lake, Mireuksaji, Mt.Wolak, Suanbo Hot Spring, Songgae Valley

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새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Happy New Year!

新年快樂, 恭喜發財!

Bonne Ann e!

Feliz A o Nuevo!

新年明けましておめでとうございます．

Fr liche Neues Jahres!

Buon Anno!

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