Staying classy

With next to no castings and only one job this week things needless to say are slow on the modeling front. Keeping up with cardio in the morning, followed by strength training in the evening, I keep myself quite active.

This week involved much more socializing outside of directly with agency and my roommates.  I have been a member of a large expat community called “Internations” since I lived in Singapore.  Friday involved an outdoor group activity walking around the mountain known as Namsan and to Seoul’s iconic Seoul Tower. 

Communities like “Internations” provide an opportunity to meet people living in a similar situation as you. I enjoyed some great conversation with people from all ends of the world (minus Antartica). Following the walk I ventured into a more westernized part of town called Itaewon. Unfortunately with western population comes western food and makes it that much more difficult to find a Zach friendly meal. 

Saturday was another event for J. Estina. While not being terribly exhausting, I found myself tired yet again. So after a quick power nap, I bit the bullet and went out to the club for the first time here.  A literal 2-minute walk away is the Ritz Carlton and its subterranean club Eden.  

You see stuff like this

Not this

One of the perks of being a model is the treatment at clubs, frequently its no line, no cover and free drinks. Here was no different.  The loud bass and smell of cigarettes filled the environment.  Personally I can’t stand cigarettes, and being thrust into this environment is less than ideal for me, but I made due with the venue.  Be the party, bring the party and have fun.  I did just that, I made myself have fun and I did. 

Probably the most enlightening part of this experience was seeing the attire of the women at the club. Sluttiness outside of the Caucasian girls was few and far between. The women dressed classy and sophisticated and mostly conservative. I found this much more attractive than the skankiness I see floating around clubs in Canada, Thailand and even Singapore.  So ladies take note, class over cleavage. 

As I am not a big drinker, there was no hangover to deal with today so I was able to find yet another adventure today. Seoul’s world cup stadium was playing host to the K-League match between FC Seoul and Jeonbuk Hyundai. This was actually the first professional football match (I am outside of North America so I can’t call it soccer) and it was amazing to be in such a large stadium. The fans were boisterous but not obnoxious. I also picked myself up a souvenir from today’s game and will try and make it back for next Sunday. 

Don’t be so shy

Over the past 3 weekends and this upcoming weekend Kevin and I have helped entertain shoppers and create some buzz surrounding J. Estina (a popular hand bag and jewelry company).  Events are one of the downsides to any modeling contract, or they can be. Usually the pay is mediocre at best, it involves long hours of standing, interaction can sometimes be difficult and of course you don’t get to use anything in your book.

A few highlights and lowlights from past jobs exist. In Canada was hired to assist women on and off the stage at the Avon awards last year. While it was great to interact with plenty of beautiful women, standing still in one spot for 6 hours is not my knee or back’s idea of a good time. 

 In Singapore a job that could possibly be regarded as the worst modelling job I ever participated in, I was cast to convince customers to get a skin whitening makeover on the street of an incredibly hot day. Soaked in sweat wearing dress shirt and pants, the client continually bitched at us for not convincing people to come in and try the skin whitener product. Meanwhile Singaporeans were running the other direction the second they saw us. With the client continually changing what she wanted us to do (only pale skinned women over 50, only pale skinned women, any woman, man and women). She whined and complained and we were paid less because of this. 

Who me?

Thailand I worked as one of the Avengers, Hawkeye for an international car show one. This was a fun and easy job. A few weeks later myself and the other models in my agency were hired to attend a wedding banquet and after party.  It was there we danced our asses off and had a blast.  Guests were literally lining up for a fun boogey or to share a smile.

Which brings me to J. Estina gigs lately. The clients have been awesome. Very friendly and concerned for our well being (water, snacks, etc.). For myself this can make a world of difference from that bitchy client I described earlier.  While the first day of this event was in a very slow section of the mall, each week has picked up and become more and more fun. To the point of last week I would literally pull women to join us for photos (the shy ones) and at other times there would be a 15 minute queue for a polaroid with the sharp dressed men. 

A born natural

This woman was afraid I would kiss her on the cheek

For events having fun is always a key and it just makes smiling that much easier.  I guess I can make that statement even more broad.  Life is more fun when you are smiling.

Taking Care of Business

Only slightly bronzed for brand image shots

Things have started to pick up for me here in Seoul lately. After the past 2 Saturdays passed by working an event for J. Estina (a luxury handbag and jewelry company). And for the following 2 Saturdays I will be doing the same thing. 

After a few weeks, action has started to pick up and with that my schedule has as well.  I booked a big underwear job (underwear boxes and point of sale displays) and 2 days of magazine shooting.  Rather than a bunch of writing (ie I am very tired from todays work) I thought I would take the time to share the pictures instead.

And a few of my friends in Thailand will appreciate this invention. Its a service button on our table for dinner. 

K-Pop and Locking

Ask and you shall receive. My adventures to Asia have enhanced my life experience greatly and I have no intention to stop this. My friendship circle becomes much more international and multicultural spanning the entire globe (well except Antarctica).

Last week I put out a request on Facebook to help introduce me to some locals in Seoul. Huge thanks for the overwhelming response; I am still trying to get in touch with everyone.

Now how about I fill you in some of my new cultural experiences. My guardian angel in Singapore put me in touch with an awesome new friend. Somehow through her hectic schedule her and a friend managed to share new info for me and she also supplied a friend and I with concert tickets.  I am not talking about the Stones, or Lady Gaga, but a concert unlike any I had been to before: K-POP.  Think Backstreet boys and Spice Girls era dancing and beats.  The girls of all these bands are beautiful, so much so that many men know the lyrics to the songs, dance moves and everything.

I was never a fan of this type of music, but I walked in with an entirely different set of eyes, not much different than when I saw the Wizard of Oz Broadway show in Singapore.  This is all about the experience and indeed it was.  The light shows were incredible, the songs were incredibly catchy and the dance moves well choreographed.  Here is my favourite dance move:

Alongside the concert I met up with my neighbor from university. Clayton and I had a blast at the concert and a great catching up, both of us viewing the world in a different set of eyes compared to the ones 4 years ago in school. 

Other cultural experiences this week included a taxi misunderstanding my destination, having to pay for a 3 dollar cab with my visa since they couldn’t make change, diving into the tunnel system that is Seoul subway, and most recently Korean Seafood BBQ with Tapooki.

The BBQ was a wonderful experience, and the food was delicious. Staff at the restaurant were very accommodating to our lack of Korean and their lack of English. This was a true Korean dining experience with no foreigners there other than myself and my roommate. The table beside us was a group of 6 older men just hammered on soju, another table a young couple and another a group of women who just finished work I can assume.  My meal consisted of a large amount of Octopus. I swear eating octopus is like eating spaghetti with suction cups. 

Practice what you preach

The ideas floating around my head lately are driving me crazy. I have so much I want to say, but I am not taking the time to write about it.  Let’s start with this title though.

As both a member of the health and fitness industry for a number of years and being fully immersed in a disordered eating ridden industry I think this is a subject worth bringing up.  And as the title says, practice what you preach.

This came to me while I was entering the gym the other day. Of all places the gym would be one where you expect to see an environment that encourages healthy behavior. But to my dismay, not all the staff are on board. As a matter of fact walking through the entrance the manager and of the personal trainers were smoking, and eating a chocolate bar.  Now as I have previously mentioned if you want to cheat do so within reason.  This is a league of its own though creating an image contrary to what you are selling. 

Tell me if I am wrong, but would you like to see the person training you partaking in such activities? These vices are human, but choose a time and place to do this. 

It’s well known and documented that the modeling industry is chock full of eating disorders and obsessive eating habits. While this is changing it is still in a brutal state. Korea is no exception to this, as a matter of fact looks and your waist size are very important to people here. So these habits are likely more pronounced here. 

Most of this relates to terrible agents saying terrible things. The result: Half a tomato for breakfast and a chocolate bar for dinner. I kid you not this is the diet of some models.  I cringe when I discover this and put in huge efforts to help educate these girls (many of which come from uneducated backgrounds).  For men its frequently cutting carbs and working out tons with an end result the same, malnourishment.  Of course malnourishment will lead to a number of health problems, but the tell tale signs are chronic fatigue, brain fog and moving forward with women amenorrhea (loss of or irregular period).

I hope to do whatever I can to help change both these images. Sometimes the message gets across and other times its ignored. Usually its because some friend lost 10 lbs (which didn’t need to be lost) drinking cayenne, lemon juice and maple syrup or some other ridiculous snake oil. 

The best tool that I use and we can all use is leading through example. Frequently I will share experiences of new recipes or new foods (my next post will be a total Korean culture explosion). Creating a healthy relationship with food through example I personally feel is one of the best methods to stem change. Activity is crucial to long term health but no one needs to lock you into the gym to achieve that, we all find something fun be it boxing, ballet or yoga, your method matters not.

Let’s take a look at goals once again, I like looking back at my progress as you should as well:

-       well I am sitting in a coffee shop in Seoul drinking an incredible tea (it tastes like Swedish berries, my favourite candy and I can’t even buy it here.)

-     -   I managed to get my hikes in and even ventured through a park here in Korea

-      -  My body fat didn’t get to where I set my goal. That’s okay though, I will strive to improve because evidently decreasing the food wasn’t the smartest move (altered eating habits turned thing negatively)

Weight loss can and is without a doubt a challenge. Sometimes because we are trying to unnecessarily lose something that need not bed lost. Other times, we aren’t ready for change and sometimes we just don’t have the tools yet.  Of course if you don’t have the right tools for the job, you can always ask.

There are always hypocrites out there, ones that will tell me I don’t know what it’s like. Well you are right, I have never struggled with being over weight myself.  But saying I don’t know is completely false as I have put in the time to understand and motivate close to a thousand people towards the changes I feel so strongly about. Many of them check in or even this this blog themselves.

The reason I don’t struggle could be a good metabolism, but could the biggest reason be, I practice what I preach?