There's been so much bad writing this week about Korea and expats (mostly thanks to the Korea times) that I haven't had anything to write here, because if I touch on any of the articles that have been written, I'll go into a blithering rant. The worst two of the lot were published yesterday, one of which was an obvious prank, and one of which was by a columnist I've mentioned before, and who now deserves to be tuned out and ignored entirely.
I'm formulating a response that might involve trying to get all my readers to flood The Korea Times with either protest letters, or prank letters...but I haven't decided which yet.
I once wrote that The Korea Herald is crap...but they got nothin' on the times.
Instead, to feel better, read the next post, and come out and have tea with me.
one expat's life in Korea
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Hang out with Roboseyo at Sparkledown the Third, this Saturday.
Hey there.It's short notice, but if you have any free time this Saturday afternoon, it being the weekend before Buddha's birthday, and me being out of town that weekend, it's a good time to hang around Jongno, which is strung up with lanterns all over the place!
On Saturday afternoon, at 3PM, I'm going to be at a nice little traditional tea house near Changdeok Palace, with whichever friends come out, and you're welcome to join me. I really like this tea room, and after some sipping and chatting, I'm going to take a stroll around Bukcheon Hanok village, have dinner somewhere in Samchungdong (depending on the size of the group) strolling over to Jogye Temple (which will be gorgeous with glowing lamps by evening), and down to the lanterns hanging around Cheonggyecheon.
You are welcome to come along for as much or as little of that as you like, and I'd love to see you. So how do you get there?
Go to Anguk Station (line 3), and come out exit 2.
src="http://www.koreasparkle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dscn5001.jpg"
don't trip on the old lady: I almost did.
when you come out of exit 2, you'll have a view something like this. Go straight, and look on your right. It's less than a five minute walk, and if you reach the three-way stoplight, you've gone too far.
There's a little place with plants in the window that looks like this, called "인...in Tea Drink Culture" (whatever that means) with a nice lady running it.
Let me know if you're coming (you can reach me at roboseyo[at]gmail[dot]com or by searching Roboseyo on facebook), or just show up.
Take it easy, folks, and hope to see you there.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
High School for North Korean Defectors: Field Trip to DMZ
I got an e-mail a little while ago about this video, and forgot about it until rechecking the Hub Of Sparkle e-mail account.
This nine-minute film gives a brief sketch of the young people who have escaped from North Korea, some of whom left their parents behind.
The more you know about North Korea, and the more you know about how North Koreans live in South Korea, the more tragic this story is... for one, the faces of all the students in the video except two, are blurred out, for fear that somebody will recognize their faces and their relatives still in North Korea will be punished.
Give it a watch.
This nine-minute film gives a brief sketch of the young people who have escaped from North Korea, some of whom left their parents behind.
The more you know about North Korea, and the more you know about how North Koreans live in South Korea, the more tragic this story is... for one, the faces of all the students in the video except two, are blurred out, for fear that somebody will recognize their faces and their relatives still in North Korea will be punished.
Give it a watch.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Short but sweet: When a Mommy and a Daddy Love Each Other Very Much...
Yay the internet.
I don't think this is how Dad explained it to me back when I was a kid, but if the internet says this is how to make a baby, it must be true.
Hope your weekend was good.
I don't think this is how Dad explained it to me back when I was a kid, but if the internet says this is how to make a baby, it must be true.
Hope your weekend was good.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Just funny... Self-Evident Truths in Writing Class
In one of my Writing classes, I just gave a test, and one of the questions was "Identify the problem with this thesis statement" -- we'd spent a lot of time talking about Thesis Statements.
Some of the problems in the thesis statements were things like:
"not specific enough"
"support does not use grammatically parallel form"
"not controversial" (for example: "Exercise is good for you" is not a good thesis statement, because most people would read it and say, "DUH")
"does not take a clear position on the topic"
"uses absolute language, making the thesis difficult to prove"
The thesis statement was:
"There are three reasons all Americans love hamburgers: they are cheap, convenient, and tasty."
The correct answer was
"This thesis statement makes an absolute claim that cannot be proven" - that is, the word "all" makes the claim indefensible, and should be replaced with a word like "some" or "many" or even "most" -- leaving room for exceptions to the assertion.
About a third of my students thought the problem with the thesis statement was
"This statement is not controversial"
Turns out "All Americans love hamburgers" is a self-evident truth. They're Americans, after all.
And all you can do is smile.
Some of the problems in the thesis statements were things like:
"not specific enough"
"support does not use grammatically parallel form"
"not controversial" (for example: "Exercise is good for you" is not a good thesis statement, because most people would read it and say, "DUH")
"does not take a clear position on the topic"
"uses absolute language, making the thesis difficult to prove"
The thesis statement was:
"There are three reasons all Americans love hamburgers: they are cheap, convenient, and tasty."
The correct answer was
"This thesis statement makes an absolute claim that cannot be proven" - that is, the word "all" makes the claim indefensible, and should be replaced with a word like "some" or "many" or even "most" -- leaving room for exceptions to the assertion.
About a third of my students thought the problem with the thesis statement was
"This statement is not controversial"
Turns out "All Americans love hamburgers" is a self-evident truth. They're Americans, after all.
And all you can do is smile.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Bum Economy Got You Down? SNSD, Kim Yu-na and Samsung are here to help
All K-Pop reports:
Kim Yuna, SNSD (Girls' Generation in English) have teamed up to cheer up Korea with...the Ha Ha Song. According to All K-pop,
Now, The Ha Ha Song was a pop song that came out a few years ago, which is really fun in the noraebang. Here's the original: I like the ska tinge.
Samsung previously had the ridiculously popular Kim Yuna do it (singing her own vocals, I bet. Crossover, here we come!) and the nearly as popular, dorky DongBangShinKi (I have a story about them) do the Ha Ha Song too, but as of the 14th, the indistinguishable Girls' Generation get the next crack. They also changed the song a bit, and gave it their own style, 'cause Girls' Generation, they wanna have fun.
And indeed, there's even a separate short video for every single member of SNSD. See if THAT helps you tell them apart.
All the Ha Ha's remind me of this:
Update: Found it!
Looks like South isn't the only Korea that knows the importance of laughter (if it is North Korean as advertised):
after a while this one reminds me a little of the creepy game-show from Requiem for a Dream.
In other news, Hite Stout has another way for you to release some stress: by pummeling an inflatable beer flute with a wooden stick while some cleavage looks on. As with any situation involving cleavage, the always-classy Chosun Ilbo's photographers were there to document it. HT to Brian
There's a joke to be made here, but I'll leave it for someone else to make.
Speaking of Yuna Kim, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it can also be the lamest.
Kim Yuna, SNSD (Girls' Generation in English) have teamed up to cheer up Korea with...the Ha Ha Song. According to All K-pop,
The Ha Ha Ha Campaign is an online cultural encouragement campaign in Korea to spread hope and cheerfulness.
Now, The Ha Ha Song was a pop song that came out a few years ago, which is really fun in the noraebang. Here's the original: I like the ska tinge.
Samsung previously had the ridiculously popular Kim Yuna do it (singing her own vocals, I bet. Crossover, here we come!) and the nearly as popular, dorky DongBangShinKi (I have a story about them) do the Ha Ha Song too, but as of the 14th, the indistinguishable Girls' Generation get the next crack. They also changed the song a bit, and gave it their own style, 'cause Girls' Generation, they wanna have fun.
And indeed, there's even a separate short video for every single member of SNSD. See if THAT helps you tell them apart.
All the Ha Ha's remind me of this:
Update: Found it!
Looks like South isn't the only Korea that knows the importance of laughter (if it is North Korean as advertised):
after a while this one reminds me a little of the creepy game-show from Requiem for a Dream.
In other news, Hite Stout has another way for you to release some stress: by pummeling an inflatable beer flute with a wooden stick while some cleavage looks on. As with any situation involving cleavage, the always-classy Chosun Ilbo's photographers were there to document it. HT to Brian
There's a joke to be made here, but I'll leave it for someone else to make.
Speaking of Yuna Kim, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it can also be the lamest.
Roboseyo Media Blitz: The Korea Herald AND Times in one day!
Hello.
Today, I am in two of Korea's English language newspapers.
The Korea Times published my letter to the editor, about that ugly stereotyping letter.
the Korea Herald's Expat Living section is publishing a best-of list I made by compiling the results from my recent "So What Really ARE The Ten Things Foreigners Like About Korea?"
If you're a new reader to this blog, take a look around. I hope you like what you see. I like living in Korea quite a lot, and one way I show it is by learning about Korea and writing about it.
More later, when I have the time to properly update this post.
Today, I am in two of Korea's English language newspapers.
The Korea Times published my letter to the editor, about that ugly stereotyping letter.
the Korea Herald's Expat Living section is publishing a best-of list I made by compiling the results from my recent "So What Really ARE The Ten Things Foreigners Like About Korea?"
If you're a new reader to this blog, take a look around. I hope you like what you see. I like living in Korea quite a lot, and one way I show it is by learning about Korea and writing about it.
More later, when I have the time to properly update this post.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Looks like James Turnbull was Right: Nudity in Korean Advertising Increases
James, at The Grand Narrative, predicted an increase in racy ads featuring nudity and body parts, due to trends visible during economic downturns.
For example, this one:
While on the subway, I noticed this ad, and realized he was totally right.
Be ready. It's pretty shocking that this would show in a public place...
Gratuitous nudity! Shameless! So many naked people in a single room! What's going on with Korea's public morality?
Can't get it to embed. Follow the link. Hint: it's babies.
For example, this one:
While on the subway, I noticed this ad, and realized he was totally right.Be ready. It's pretty shocking that this would show in a public place...
Gratuitous nudity! Shameless! So many naked people in a single room! What's going on with Korea's public morality?
Can't get it to embed. Follow the link. Hint: it's babies.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Best Cherry Blossom Pictures:Kyunghee University
sitting around outside.
late afternoon sun
layers
Kyunghee's main gate
at HUFS
When there's just too much beauty, too many cherry blossoms, how do you come up with any kind of composition?Easy: photoshop some people into the foreground
stealing a kiss
white in sunlight
same tree at HUFS
this couple was having way too much fun
i love taking pictures of people taking pictures of other people
one of the better shots from the group
you know I went through about 700 pictures to get these best few
that's all. ate at the spanish place in Paju again today. still the best Sangria I've had, no contest.More about that later.
PS: Post number 550!
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