메리 크리스마스

I just wanted to take the chance to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas (or whatever you'll be celebrating in your own way). I had a great time the past two days, and I want to thank all of my friends and family for making it special (plus, the weather gods for the few flakes of snow that fell in Seoul this evening). I was hoping to give you a much longer post, but it's very late, and I'm leaving for my vacation in only a few hours.

For the next week or so, I'll be in Cambodia and more than likely I won't have time to post. So it looks like this will be it for this year. I'll tell you all about my trip when I get back...

...in 2010.

Make a Smilebox greeting

The Cost of Beauty

(This post has been pieced together from something I read in the newspapers today and a post that I started about six months ago, but never finished. Hope it's not too incoherent.)

I came across this today, while looking at the newspapers. I know that I'm no expert on nutrition, but something tells me that living on only 800 calories per day cannot be healthy, especially for young girls. And the sad thing is that I know this kind of nonsense is happening all over the entertainment industry in nearly every developed country in the world. Still, these girls are pop idols, who represent and are role models for many young girls in this country and in Asia as a whole (hence the name, 'Girls Generation'). I really hope this doesn't spark some sort of movement for young girls to copycat the 'Girls Generation Diet,' in vain efforts to stay abnormally thin.

And that's only the beginning. It's no secret to the world that South Koreans have an ever-increasing love affair with plastic surgery. It's an easy thing to overlook for anyone who's new to the county, but it's not long before you start noticing all the 'aesthetic clinics' around town, the abnormally shiny-faced women, or the fact that no one on television looks like a normal human being. There's a procedure for everything: double eyelids, high nose bridge, S-line, V-line, calf augmentation, facial bone structuring, skin resurfacing (my co-teacher at the old job had this a few months ago, and all the other teachers gathered around in admiration as if her new face was a new pair of shoes), breast augmentation, and who knows what else (though, ironically, using braces to get your teeth aligned is only recently coming into favor). Even outside of entertainment, for some families, a child's first aesthetic 'medical' procedure is a coming-of-age moment, fully funded by parents and loved ones. Even men are doing it.

Korea (and the whole developed world, in general) really needs to find a new definition of 'beauty.' I'm not saying that everyone here thinks this way, I know it's only a small (but still disturbingly large) percentage of the population, but this just isn't acceptable. Not everyone is exceptionally attractive, and not everyone needs to be. Young girls (and boys) should be told that they're fine just the way they are. There's nothing wrong with being average.

As a wise man once said...

It's you I like

Not the clothes you wear

Not the way you do your hair

But it's you I like

The way you are right now

The way down deep inside you

Not the things that hide you

Not your toys, they're just beside you

But it's you I like

Every part of you

Your skin, your eyes, your feelings

Whether old or new

So I hope that you remember

Even when you're feeling blue

That it's you I like, it's you yourself, it's you

It's you I like

(was going to post a video here, but it seems YouTube is doing a better job of policing copy-written material).

Gee...

'서비스' : My Favorite Korean Word

Below is a post a thought up a few weeks ago. Just now getting to putting it into writing:

Let's be honest. Korean is not the world's most beautiful language. Don't get me wrong, it isn't bad, but it certainly doesn't roll off the tongue as elegantly as French, Italian, or any other of the European Romance Languages. But often missed amongst the confusion of traditional formalities, there is a certain grace in many words and expressions, from which an accurate English translation could never be formulated. One of those words is '서비스.'

Taken literally, '서비스' means 'service' in the English language. Actually, the Hangul and spoken form come straight from English. And even though '서비스' ends up sounding more like 'sah-bi-seu' than the accepted Webster pronunciation, it's obvious where this neo-Korean word originated. However, taken in a cultural context, '서비스' and it's older brother 'service' have vastly different meanings.

In my homeland (and I assume most other Western countries in the world), service is the opposite of a product (at least that's what they teach you in university business classes). It's something that is essential to running a successful company (or may be what you actually sell), but always comes at a significant cost. It's being treated well at a restaurant (don't forget to add your 15-20% tip), having your questions answered at a department store, getting your car fixed, or receiving quick, clean, and efficient medical treatment (for the low-low cost of half your life's savings). We've become a 'service culture,' where there is very little manufacturing and physical buying and selling. It's supposedly a step-up from the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century (I honestly couldn't tell you. I don't remember much from the good old days of the IR). Service is a requirement, and if anyone ever accuses your company of having 'bad service,' you better watch out for the next issue of Consumer Digest.

But as I mentioned before, '서비스' in Korea, though rooted in the same concept, has a very different connotation. '서비스' can be translated more or less to 'getting stuff for free.'

'서비스' is a beautiful thing. It's getting 14 apples for the price of 12 without asking, being served free Tequila shots worth twice as much as the two beers you just ordered (yeah, Brandon, I just went there), having an hour of 노래방 (karaoke) last for an hour and a half, finding the most random things taped to the side of the cereal you are about to buy (I admit it. I've bought corn flakes just to get the free coffee mug sticking awkwardly to the box), free food from your favorite small restaurant (no tip necessary), having your hair washed for free after your $5 haircut, getting a free case, extra battery, and memory card with your new camera, and so much more. Basically, it's pretty sweet.

And to top it all off, '서비스,' if not provided automatically, can often be ordered like most anything else on the menu (though usually more successfully by Koreans than foreigners). I can't tell you how many times I've gone somewhere and heard my friends call over an attendant and ask '서비스 주세요' ('Service, please'). Next thing you know, you've got a free plate of fresh fruit or an extra accessory thrown in with your high-ticket purchase.

Maybe it's the competitive nature of people and businesses. Maybe it's the group mentality. Maybe it's the desire to please. I really don't know. But '서비스' is a beautiful, beautiful word.

***

Two final thoughts:

• I just found out that that strange-looking church near my house is totally a cult. They've stopped me before when I was walking home and tried to get me to come in for tea, but suddenly I 'had plans.' I'm not going to mention it by name, for fear that they might somehow find me, but go ahead and do a search on Google if you want to read more. I'm sure there aren't too many female-dominated cults that think Korea is the new Zion, so you can probably find it if you look hard enough. In the meantime, I might be rerouting my walk to the subway (should I be worried that this entry ends up second in the search results?).

• So glad people are allowed to say the word 'Christmas' in this country. I was catching up on a few of my favorite American TV shows, only to see that almost all of them were making fun of how P.C. the holidays have become back home. I understand the need to not offend any voters or sponsors, but sometimes political correctness goes a little too far.

...do I have to mention it?

Living the North Korean Dream?

Alright, I'm back and still listening to 'Charlie Brown Christmas' (my playcount is steadily rising). As I mentioned before, my brother was here for about a week and a half, so I've been busy and unable to update. It was a really good time for both him and I, and I was so happy that he was finally able to make it out to see me. It was a bit sad to see him go, but there was no time for emotional goodbyes, as we woke up an hour later than anticipated, and he nearly missed his plane.

But yeah, it was great to see him again. We did so much while he was here, and actually, I found a few places in Seoul that I'm not used to visiting. I realize now that I spend most of my time in the same two or three places, when there is a whole lot more out there than I realize. I'll have to do some further exploring later.

And no, in case you're wondering, my brother was not fantasizing of running away to North Korea. The title of this post actually has to do with a discussion that I had with my Korean friend (who is currently working through his required two-year military service along the Northern border). I met him for breakfast last week (while my brother was at home sleeping), and he was telling me a story about a recent event in which a South Korean man decided that he wanted to 'run away' to the North a few weeks ago. Apparently no one knew about it until the South Korean army started receiving transmissions that the other side 'had one of their men,' and since, certain new security measures were being implemented. Strange that I never read about this in the newspaper (and couldn't really find any mention of it in a quick search I did after our meeting), but I guess that South Korea has nothing to gain by advertising the escape of one of it's citizens. Not the smartest idea, I guess, but good like, buddy. I hope you didn't enjoy eating too much.

Since it's been awhile since I've been able to post, I've scribbled a few notes that I'm now trying to decipher. Strange that my handwriting seemed so much clearer and easy to read when I was writing...so now here's my regular splatter of thoughts.

***

Was on the subway the other day with my brother. An older Korea man approached us as his station was getting closer and he moved closer to the door. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he turns to me.

'Handsome boy'

'Uhh...thank you'

'Russian?' (as he starts patting the side of my face)

'No, American'

'Handsome boy'

Did he just ask me if I was Russian???

***

Teaching at school. In the textbook there is a picture of an African-American boy.

'OBAMA!!!' The class starts to shout in unison. (sigh)

***

Leaving work last week. The janitor (who can speak decent English) sees me and starts talking.

'Going home?'

'Yep'

'You married?' (a very standard question)

'Nope. Someday, though.'

'You have a girlfriend?'

'No'

'Then how are you ever going to get married???'

'Um, I guess I'll have to find one'

'In Korea?' (this question is also standard, but it's hard to tell sometimes whether the asker is being suspicious of the foreigner or suggestive. I think he was being suggestive.)

'I don't know. Maybe'

'You better get on that fast'

I couldn't help but laugh silently. Not sure he was trying to be funny.

***

The Korean education system continues to be unnecessarily competitive. My student (who is in 3rd grade, I think) was upset because she got 95%, 95%, and 100% on her three end of term tests. 'So bad, so bad,' she kept repeating. I tried to comfort her by telling her that she did really well and not to be upset. 'No, my mom is going to be mad.' Korean parents really need to stop thinking that anything less than perfect is bad.

***

Teaching again. Another random comment from the students.

'Teacher, your nose is big'

'Surgery?'

Nope, my high-nose bridge is all-natural.

***

Bought a small Christmas tree for 5,000원. Been up and down a bit lately. Going to try to stay good on my promise to update more often.

And, as always, check out my other blog. I'm not going to proofread this one.

Linus and Lucy

It's December, and you know what that means? It's time to pull out Vince Guaraldi's 'Charlie Brown Christmas' album. To me, it's one of the greatest albums off all time (in any style) and it's sad that there is only one month a year that you can listen to it in good conscience. I pulled it out earlier this evening, and I'm already on my third go around. I've got the next 30 days to get my yearly fill.

***

As I mentioned earlier, my brother is on his way now and will be here early tomorrow morning. Actually, today was his birthday, but due to a 14 hour flight and a 14 hour time difference between Pittsburgh and Seoul, it was completely lost. I'm sure he won't really mind, though.

I'm really glad that he's finally got the chance to come out here. Ever since I first moved to Korea, a lot of people have told me that they were going to come visit me. And so far, no one has. It's great for me because it's the first time that I can really show someone around (except for the few friends I have who visited from other Asian countries) and it's the only time I'll get to see my brother for the next 9 months. And I'm really happy for him, too. The two of us have always been very close, and we've often talked about traveling together. But in all the traveling I've done, this is his first. I'll be busy the next week and a half running him around, but I really want to make this a memorable trip for him.

***

Speaking of traveling, I'm trying to firm up my own travel plans for the end of this month. As it looks right now, I might try to go to Cambodia and visit the ruins at Angkor Wat, but it still depends on a few things. I hear that this is the best time of year to go there, and it will be a nice, warm change to the cold oncoming Korean winter.

***

Been back just about 3 months. I can't believe it. It still seems like not too long ago that I finished my first three months. Time is going fast, but luckily I've still got at least 9 more months to enjoy my life in Korea.

***

As I hinted before, last weekend was great. So far I'm doing really good on my resolution to start making better use of my time. I was off on Friday to so I headed out to the middle of no where in Jeollabuk-do to visit an American friend that I met in Mongolia. It was a short but really interesting trip. I got to see a totally different side of life in a Korea and meet a totally different group of foreign English teachers (of which my friend, at 30, was noticeably the youngest). It's interesting because we both live in the same country, but I know we've got completely different takes on what life in Korea is all about.

I came back after lunch on Saturday for a great Thanksgiving turkey dinner with my friends at Big Rock Brewery in Kangnam. It was really good because our relationship has been a bit tense and confused lately, but I think we've finally ironed things out. Plus, I was definitely thankful to get some turkey, which is near impossible to come by in this country. For any other foreigners here, the brewery is also going to have a turkey dinner for Christmas. They're making reservations now, so call early if you're interested.

***

Whew! That's a lot of stuff. I'm not going to even attempt to look back and reread it to make sure it makes sense. I'm probably going to be really busy while my brother is here, so it might be quite awhile before my next update. We'll see. Don't lose faith. I know I've been posting pretty sparingly since August, but I will be back.

***

A few closing thoughts:

• Saw a CCTV van on the way to work a few days ago. Come on, seriously? CCTV is everywhere in this country, but I think it's a bit harsh to start driving around, filming people walking on the sidewalks.
• One of my 4th grade students came to class last week with a fake-vintage style T-shirt with a huge pot leaf on it and some sort of classy motto about 'pure hallucinogen,' or something like that. I've seen some pretty messed-up T-shirts, but is this country so English-challenged and naive about drugs that the girl, her friends, her parents, AND her school had no idea what she was wearing?
• There was something else, but I forget.

***

Keep checking out my other blog. It's getting bigger, but (like this one) I'm not sure if anyone's reading it.