Anonymous HIV testing in Mokpo

Via waygook.org the closest anonymous HIV testing in Mokpo is in Gwangju. An interesting note from that thread is that if you are identitifed as HIV positive you will be deported within 2 weeks. That idea is being challeneged as an assault on human right in one court case:

The commission last week submitted its opinion to the Seoul Administrative Court, which will rule on his petition against the order. "The HIV virus is not transmissible through normal contact. Living together with his family members here, the plaintiff can get active and voluntary treatment, meaning that the possibility of HIV infection by him is extremely low," the human rights watchdog said in a statement."Because of the situation in China - where such people are quarantined, and only rudimentary human rights protection exists for HIV patients - deporting him could adversely affect his health and life. By international human rights standards, such an order is excessive."

While the case is so specific to China it could set a precendent, one that may have a disastrous side side effects:

The Korea Federation for HIV/AID Prevention said the deportation could have side effects. "It could drive more foreign HIV positive people to hide their illness fearing deportation,'' its spokesman said

Of course cases like these, as unfortunate as they are, are common throughout the world. The issue of deportation (or at least refusal of entry) based on HIV screening is also common in most countries and Korea is not alone in automatic explusion:

United States of America
In principle, the USA refuses entry to foreign nationals known to be HIV positive. In exceptional cases, a stay of 30 days may be granted (for family visits, medical treatment, business travel or participation in a scientific, health-related conference).
HIV testing or a medical exam are not required. In the visa application form, the applicant has to say if he/she has a “communicable disease of public health significance”. The visa will be denied if this is the case. An applicant who answers “no” despite better knowledge commits an immigration fraud, which leads to immigration prohibition. HIV-positive foreign nationals lose their right to remain in the USA and are expelled if their status becomes known.

Kwangju's Art Street

광주예술의 거리 (aka Kwanju's Art Street) is located in the Dong-gu district. Mokpo expat artists usually visit the street during their on their grocery or coffee runs and pick up art supplies, crafts, paintings, ceramics, souvenirs, etc; compared to North American prices supplies like paper and canvas is fairly cheap but transporting large items back to Mokpo can be troublesome. If you plan the trip on the weekend you can also shop at the Saturday flea market.

Art Street is close enough to Shinae YMCA (and related Starbucks) that you can get there by giving the same taxi directions and simply walk across the main street to the K.E.B. Bank and keep walking down the alley until you reach the police station.

Starbucks

The closest Starbucks to Mokpo is (sadly, but also conveniently) in Kwangju, right next to the Kwanju bus terminal in the 신세계 (aka Shinsaegyae) department store. The favorite one is in Chungjangno. That Starbucks is the one that is everybody knows as "Shinae YMCA" or "next to the book store" or "across the street from Outback." I'm guessing that's it's also the source for Starbucks Ambiance Sound Recording #1 and #2, courtesy of the tweeterdj at the free sound project. And most Mokponians ignore the third store since the other two are closer to shopping & mass transportation.

Funny enough the lack of readily available Starbucks in Mokpo has turned me off of drinking there. I tried to find alternatives but the drink equivalents are often too sweet or too homo-milky for my taste; Mokpo is a place where soy milk is sold in children drinking boxes but not as a milk alternative for coffee.
After roughly six months of creamer disappointment, I actually came up with my own chocolate soy latte (with a hint of cinnamon) drink for the cold Korean mornings. It's the one thing that I did that can compete with resident super chef, Rachel. (No last name--that's how super chef she is).

The actual Starbucks experience here in Korea is the same as back home. They have soy milk, they have the same promotional drinks, and they have the same prices. And as Rachel put it:

It's not about trying new things; it's about getting the same drink, the way you love it, everywhere you go in the world.

I'd like to see that as a thought on a Starbucks cup.

The Underground Grocer

The Underground Grocer, The Purveyors of thing not Kimchi is a small foreign food shop in Kwangju and it's the closest thing that we go to a foreigner grocery store here in Mokpo. It's pretty small, but makes up for it with bacon, cheddar cheese, tortillas, oatmeal, guacamole, frozen samosas, canned blueberries and other unique tastes of home. They were even taking orders for holiday turkeys.

At last check it's in store J-20 in Geumnam-no Underground Shopping Center; Galbijim has more info.