...and happy new year!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Stuff korean moms like
Have a look at Chiyo's website dedicated to her Korean mom. Her blog is like a window into the inner-workings of a typical Korean housewife's mind. Very insightful and hilariously written.
*Pictured above is correction: is not her actual mom!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Jinju
Jinju city is located a couple hours west of Busan. It is the home of Jinju Fortress, a remarkable site that harkens back to the days before the invasion of Korea by Japan. Jinju's moment of glory came in 1592 during the Imjin War, when a force of just 3,800 Koreans held off an invading army of 20,000 Japanese. Unfortunately, the Japanese came back the next year with an army of 70,000. Jinju was finally overtaken that year. Luckily, this historical site has since been rebuilt to its former glory. It's a great place to be immersed in Korea's history and learn about the culture.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Korea circa 1945
These rare pictures give us a view of Korea before the 35 year occupation by Japan where a large portion of Korea was burned to the ground.
Thank you to Flickr user "dok1" for posting these amazing pictures of his travels to Korea in 1945. These photos are amazing. Please click here to view the entire set as well as his interesting captions.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Korea is mad about mad cow
beef have been going on in Seoul for the last couple
of weeks. Plans to reopen the beef trade in accordance
to the american FTA agreement have come to a grinding
halt because of escalating opposition which has
recently turned violent. Nearly 50,000 protesters were
greeted with water canons as they rallied in front of
Seoul city hall last night. American beef was halted
from entering the country 4 years ago because of fears
of mad cow disease. Actual instances of mad cow have
yet to be reported, however fear and rumors have been
spreading like wildfire.
With no real danger of mad cow disease one has to
wonder "what is all this madness about"? Korea imports
Australian beef with no worries. Is it based on
mistrust of America? Or is it public manipulation by
farm lobbyists to protect the Korean beef industry
from cheaper imports?
Check out this video from the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7429726.stm
Monday, May 19, 2008
Kwangju Democratic Movement
Yesterday marked the day of the Kwangju democratic movement, often referred to as the Kwangju massacre. Here are a few video clips about the story.
http://gwmodernkorea.blogspot.com/2008/04/kwangju-democratic-movement.html
These videos are a stark reminder of tragedies and political turmoil in the peninsula just just a few decades ago.
http://gwmodernkorea.blogspot.com/2008/04/kwangju-democratic-movement.html
These videos are a stark reminder of tragedies and political turmoil in the peninsula just just a few decades ago.
Wikipedia describes it like this: "The Gwangju Democratization Movement refers to a popular uprising in the city of Gwangju, South Korea from May 18 to May 27, 1980. During this period, citizens rose up against Chun Doo-hwan's military dictatorship and took control of the city. During the later phase of the uprising, citizens took on arms to defend themselves, but were crushed by the South Korean army. It is simply called 5.18 by South Koreans to avoid politicizing the event. (Those who condemn it call it "5.18 Incident" and those who support it call it "5.18 Uprising") For the period of Chun Doo-hwan's reign, the incident was denounced as a rebellion inspired by Communist sympathizers. But after civil rule was reinstated, the incident received recognition as an effort to restore democracy from military rule. The government made a formal apology for the incident, and a national cemetery was established for the victims."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju_Massacre
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Things that Koreans think that may surprise you
Here is a list of funny things I’ve heard Koreans say that from my perspective is shocking or hilarious. I attribute my reaction to being brought up in a different culture with a completely different education and set of experiences. I don’t want to pass judgment here, or even suggest that all Korean people share these opinions. They are just some comments that I have often heard during my almost 3 years living in this country that in my opinion would sound strange or silly to people from a western country. None of these are sarcastic jokes or inventions of my own. They are all commonly accepted notions in Korea. So, without further ado...
Number 1: “If you can use chopsticks you are smart.”
The conversation usually starts like this: “Can you use chopsticks?” After three years of living here I am still shocked to hear people ask me this question. I usually answer “Of course. It isn’t that hard to learn. And, we do have chopsticks in my home country”. The reaction I often get is disbelief followed by “Koreans are smart because we use chopsticks made of metal which are more difficult to use that other countries.”
There is something to be said about someone who has good co-ordination, but I have no idea how intelligence and the ability to use utensils became so intertwined. I can use a pencil and spoon, as well as scissors, and yes even chopsticks. I must be getting smart here in Korea!
2: “Kimchi can cure SARS and prevents cancer”
The Korean staple kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish, has often been described to me as health food with amazing healing properties. The most amazing of which is the ability to cure SARS. I guess that means Koreans can’t get SARS. However, This has never been scientifically proven.
Fun bonus fact: most Korean households have two refrigerators. One for regular food, and one specifically designed to cool and ferment kimchi. Nifty.
3: “Don’t sleep with the fan on, or it will kill you.”
Fan death is an urban myth that is widely accepted by most people here. In Korea, most electric fans come equipped with timers so that a fan can automatically turn off after you fall asleep. They even come equipped with warning labels telling you about the dangers of sleeping with a fan on. Several fan related deaths are reported on the news every summer. The Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB), a South Korean government-funded public agency, issued a consumer safety alert in 2006 warning that "asphyxiation from electric fans and air conditioners" was among South Korea's five most common seasonal summer accidents or injuries, according to data they collected.
4: “Eating dog soup can improve men’s stamina”
I don’t think it is a secret to most that eating dog is not considered crewel or unusual in Korea. There is a whole debate about it of course, which I won’t discuss now. But, what I find strange it that eating dog I considered good for men’s sexual endurance, like a natural form of Viagra. It is also said to be good for cooling down during the hot summer months. Several other Korean dishes are considered to hold this amazing male enhancing property as well, which leads me to ask, why to Korean men need so many enhancers?
5: “Foreigners can’t eat spicy food. Korean food is too spicy for you”
This is another question I often get asked: “Can you eat this? Isn’t it spicy?” The belief is that foreigners don’t have any spicy food in their own countries. Since red pepper paste is a popular ingredient in Korean food, the dishes here can be a bit spicy, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend trying. In fact, Korean food can be healthy and very delicious!
6: “Your blood type determines your personality”
Blood types are used here in a similar fashion as astrological signs are used back home. People will often ask you your blood type, which can be a bit surprising especially if you don’t know it. Here is a break down of blood type personality traits:
Type A: creative, calm, overearnest
B: wild, cheerful, selfish, arrogant
AB: cool, rational, critical
O: sociable, optimist, careless, vain
These days its main use is to determine compatibility between men and women. What’s even stranger is, the idea of blood types determining personality is said to stem from Nazi Germany ideology and popularized in Japan during the 1930s in order to breed better soldiers. Weird!
I hope this list helps illustrate a bit of how I feel about the strange things I hear coming out of the mouths of many Koreans. Although I do not agree that using chopsticks make you smart, or that kimchi is a miracle food, or that a fan can kill you, I try to respect the differences in opinion. However, some might suggest these beliefs are a result of misinformation, and the inability to use linear rational thought. I am often left speechless when I hear someone tell me something like “don’t sleep with the fan on”. But logic like we know it doesn’t exist here. That is Korea!
Number 1: “If you can use chopsticks you are smart.”
The conversation usually starts like this: “Can you use chopsticks?” After three years of living here I am still shocked to hear people ask me this question. I usually answer “Of course. It isn’t that hard to learn. And, we do have chopsticks in my home country”. The reaction I often get is disbelief followed by “Koreans are smart because we use chopsticks made of metal which are more difficult to use that other countries.”
There is something to be said about someone who has good co-ordination, but I have no idea how intelligence and the ability to use utensils became so intertwined. I can use a pencil and spoon, as well as scissors, and yes even chopsticks. I must be getting smart here in Korea!
2: “Kimchi can cure SARS and prevents cancer”
The Korean staple kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish, has often been described to me as health food with amazing healing properties. The most amazing of which is the ability to cure SARS. I guess that means Koreans can’t get SARS. However, This has never been scientifically proven.
Fun bonus fact: most Korean households have two refrigerators. One for regular food, and one specifically designed to cool and ferment kimchi. Nifty.
3: “Don’t sleep with the fan on, or it will kill you.”
Fan death is an urban myth that is widely accepted by most people here. In Korea, most electric fans come equipped with timers so that a fan can automatically turn off after you fall asleep. They even come equipped with warning labels telling you about the dangers of sleeping with a fan on. Several fan related deaths are reported on the news every summer. The Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB), a South Korean government-funded public agency, issued a consumer safety alert in 2006 warning that "asphyxiation from electric fans and air conditioners" was among South Korea's five most common seasonal summer accidents or injuries, according to data they collected.
4: “Eating dog soup can improve men’s stamina”
I don’t think it is a secret to most that eating dog is not considered crewel or unusual in Korea. There is a whole debate about it of course, which I won’t discuss now. But, what I find strange it that eating dog I considered good for men’s sexual endurance, like a natural form of Viagra. It is also said to be good for cooling down during the hot summer months. Several other Korean dishes are considered to hold this amazing male enhancing property as well, which leads me to ask, why to Korean men need so many enhancers?
5: “Foreigners can’t eat spicy food. Korean food is too spicy for you”
This is another question I often get asked: “Can you eat this? Isn’t it spicy?” The belief is that foreigners don’t have any spicy food in their own countries. Since red pepper paste is a popular ingredient in Korean food, the dishes here can be a bit spicy, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend trying. In fact, Korean food can be healthy and very delicious!
6: “Your blood type determines your personality”
Blood types are used here in a similar fashion as astrological signs are used back home. People will often ask you your blood type, which can be a bit surprising especially if you don’t know it. Here is a break down of blood type personality traits:
Type A: creative, calm, overearnest
B: wild, cheerful, selfish, arrogant
AB: cool, rational, critical
O: sociable, optimist, careless, vain
These days its main use is to determine compatibility between men and women. What’s even stranger is, the idea of blood types determining personality is said to stem from Nazi Germany ideology and popularized in Japan during the 1930s in order to breed better soldiers. Weird!
I hope this list helps illustrate a bit of how I feel about the strange things I hear coming out of the mouths of many Koreans. Although I do not agree that using chopsticks make you smart, or that kimchi is a miracle food, or that a fan can kill you, I try to respect the differences in opinion. However, some might suggest these beliefs are a result of misinformation, and the inability to use linear rational thought. I am often left speechless when I hear someone tell me something like “don’t sleep with the fan on”. But logic like we know it doesn’t exist here. That is Korea!
Jeju Island
I got a few weeks off from work so I decided to take a trip down to beautiful Jeju island for some camping on the beach. Lucky for me my old neighbor from Busan, Zach, now lives on the island and was kind enough to take me on a tour. For about $50 I rented a scooter and we made a three day trip around the island to visit the various beaches and sights.
We saw this great bamboo boat used for short romantic tours.
Jeju Island Bonus
Here is an article written in French about Jeju for my french speaking readers.
http://www2.canoe.com/voyages/decouvrir/52foislamer/archives/2007/12/20071227-093136.html
ENJOY!
http://www2.canoe.com/voyages/decouvrir/52foislamer/archives/2007/12/20071227-093136.html
ENJOY!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Countryside picture round-up!
I've been neglecting the old blog these days. Here are some random pictures I've taken since the last update. Enjoy!
Upo wetlands outside of Busan.
Some nice rooftop smokestack characters that overlook TongYeong city.
Muju ski resort. Most crowded ski resort I've ever seen.
Some nice rooftop smokestack characters that overlook TongYeong city.
Belated Christmas picture... (Merry Christmas)
Here I am at a lake in the historical Gyeongju area.
BONUS VIDEO!
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