A bit of personal site building history here.  Six months ago, Pusanweb was getting less than 10 visitors a day and the internet cafe it was originally designed to promote was in terminal condition.  I planned to abandon the site and started to think about finishing my contract and finally getting around to my long delayed learning excursion to Guatemala. Then, I visited my folks in NH and gave them a Casio QV100 to celebrate the renewal of their vows.  As I got to know that camera, I knew I would have to have one of my own.  
(2013 Note: That QV100 was cutting edge - capable of taking 320x240 pixel photos)

    I returned to Pusan on a steamy August day. Those of you familiar with the scene here know that there is always a lot of coming & going that time of year.  That particular night we were bidding farewell to one of Pusan's most colorful residents, Nick.  Out came the camera and the era of being known as "the guy with the camera"  began.  

     The response from people (mostly partiers and their parents) was enough to re-energize my sense of potential for this site and to awaken me to the amazing possibilities of combining the latest multimedia recording technologies with all this internetting going on.  An old school project, Worldbridges, returned to life in the form of an internet based multimedia broadcasting network dedicated to exploring cultural diversity.  So, six months after planning to abandon the world of website creation, I now plan to  make it my life's work (at least for the foreseeable future) and  I don't think this would have happened without the camera. Once again plans for Guatemala have been delayed but I'll get there eventually and when I do, you'll probably see it posted somewhere on the Net. 

    Since that night at Nick's, I've taken over 3,000 pictures.  A lot of them have been too dark, or too blurry, or just not that interesting, but some of them I've grown quite fond of.  Here are my favorites - some for the sake of aesthetics, others for the sake of remembering the moment. Lots of others are in the Pusanweb Photo Section.  Thanks to all those who have participated in creating and sharing these moments.

My Very Favorites     Other Favorites   Came out of the health club one day and these adjumas were banging away on some drums and dancing wildly. I was later told that this was a traditional Korean exorcism.   A clown overwhelmed with reaction to his own creations.  Hmmm, that has a familiar ring to it. Taken at Pusan's premiere event of '97, PIFF. Kwangju & Yoon Hee are the English Dept. secretaries at Sungsim, where I work.  They have a been a great help in many ways.  This was taken in back of a bus on our way to visit Dave, an injured coworker.   Just a perfect Ron and Liane picture. I wouldn't be where I am without Ron's camaraderie in dweebness or Liane's social helmsmanship. Christmas '97  I'm not exactly a churchgoer, but the energy and warmth of this service truly filled me with the Spirit of Christmas.   Although Mondo Pepper has faded from the scene lately, they provided some of 97's best music, fun, and photo ops. What a mix - Dried squid (the movie munchie of preference here), the Golden Arches, and a fallen soju soldier.   Granted, this was a posed photo, but it captures a victorious moment of connection with this student after a somewhat depressing midterm conference. Looking at life through a soju glass - part of the Pusan experience.   The beer cases of Happy Marts have probably heard a lot of interesting conversations. Never pour your own. Receive and pour with your right hand, two hands if you're younger.   Vinnie is going to be a star.  I think the Expatriate is going to do pretty well for itself too.     Ritualized Demonstrations are part of the social fabric here.   I don't pretend to understand all of the dynamics involved, but  they make for some very interesting  photos. ThesBest of the Rest