"No Couches in Korea"

biglance (37)in #korea • 7 years ago (edited)

If you are interested in Asia or South Korea, or are just curious what it is like to travel and live in a very foreign country from your own, then this book is for you!

Kevin M. Maher, the author of "No Couches in Korea", takes you back to 1996 in Pusan, South Korea, the port city located just across from Japan, which at that time hosted Russian sailors, American military and a scattered few Western English teachers amongst which Kevin was one. He starts his own "Journey West", leaping off from the neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon where he was working shortly after graduating from college in Michigan. Kevin since his childhood, always had a strong wanderlust, possibly from his family living in over 15 different homes while he was a growing up and changing schools almost yearly, due to the jobs of his parents who were in education. It is little surprise that Kevin ended up in education and also traveling the world extensively.

Take a journey with Kevin back to the 90's in South Korea, and learn about the quirkiness of his fellow English teachers and his interactions with the Korean people.

Here is an excerpt from the beginning of "No Couches in Korea":

"May, 1996. Four long bulky bags and an acoustic guitar all sat in a row on the short green grass between the road and the sidewalk. I hovered nearby, peering towards Division Street searching for my cab. It was my last day living in Portland, Oregon— a city I had come to love— and it was my last night with the black-haired, green-eyed woman I’d been involved with for the last three years. For Sasha and me, it was no longer the beginning of the end: it was the end of the end. I was about to leave, I was about to go, I was on my way to teach English in Pusan( 부산· 釜山), South Korea.

I was saying good-bye to all I’d ever known, including her. Sad as hell, I stood on the curb among my bags on that misty May morning, waiting. Maybe the cab was late. Maybe it had to the wrong address— I didn’t know. I left my things on the side of the road, put my hand into her mailbox, and ripped open the letter I’d left with her key enclosed. Then I walked back into the apartment. As I opened the front door, the morning’s memories flooded back into my mind. I could hear the sound of the alarm clock as I embraced her—“ Honey? Honey? It’s the morning, honey…” But she was tired. She wanted to sleep more, so we simply embraced in bed. I could see it all, it had just happened hours ago, but thatmoment had gone forever. What had once happened every day might never happen again.

I picked up the phone and dialed the cab company. “Hello? Yeah, yeah, I’ll hold.” I played with the cord for a while. “Yes, no problem. Yes, yes, okay. Well, I’m calling from 2339 SE Sherman Street. Yes, well I was calling to confirm that my cab is coming. Sure! Okay. Five minutes? Okay, five minutes. Yeah… yeah… okay, great. No, no thank you. Okay, bye,” and I hung up the phone. Sasha’s cat, Shaddow, rubbed up against me. I petted her, feeling lifeless inside. I asked myself— and the cat—“ So, is this really it?”

So why in the world are there "no couches in Korea"...well, you will have to read the book to find out, and I will give you a hint...it is NOT because there are no actual couches in Korea :)

One unique feature of Kevin's book is that he has made a youtube channel to show you first-hand some of the places where scenes take place in his book, from Korea's famous Haeundae Beach, Seomyun party area, and apartment complex where he lived, here is a sample of Kevin showing you Korea first-hand! He has many videos on his channel, please check them out!