Laura's Korean Adventures
Cooler than scrapbooking.
-
Time is winding down in South Korea and I am starting to think of all the things I will miss. At the top of that list (right below people) is Bimbimbap (빔빔밮). It is one of the first Korean dishes I tried when coming to Korea and have been addicted for an entire year….which means it is true love. It consists of rice topped with veggies, go-chu-jang (spicy red pepper sauce) and an egg. This one looks like it could have some seafood mixed in there as well. I am going to have to learn how to make this within the first month of being home or I might go into withdraws.
-
I know this has nothing to do with Korea, but I LOVE THIS DRESS! :)
rancespark:
First of all, I’m like 6 days late.
Second, I could care less about Hince or Moss.
Third, Galliano, you are a fool.BUT,
the dress is absolutely GORGEOUS.(Source: marieclaire.com)
-
Maybe I’ll come back to Korea????
The people of South Korea have been celebrating like there’s no tomorrow! It’s been out of control over here, and it’s exciting to experience this first hand. DK and I agreed that wherever we are in 2018, Korea or America, we are going to make it a priority to attend the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
I’m not ready to have a Gina or DK jr. anytime soon, however, I’m certain that we will probably have a child before 2018. DK has fond memories of attending the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics with his family, and I want my child(ren) to have the same experience DK did.
DK, my hubby, was 7 years old (Korean age, 6 years old Western age) when the 1988 Summer Olympics was held in Seoul, South Korea. He has fond memories of walking hand-in-hand with his mother & younger brother at Olympic Park, wearing his Olympic logo sunglasses, and watching the Olympic games up close and personal with his family. How exciting is that???
대한민국!!!!!!!!
South Korea’s Pyeongchang gets 2018 Winter Olympics
(Source: positive-press-daily)
-
LOVE. I might be putting one in my luggage. I am going to miss this cuteness so much.
I don’t know a word for this other than brilliant. It epitomizes what I see out of Korean children on a daily basis.
-
Extreme sports - little risk?
I have had the pleasure of doing some pretty exciting things while in Korea. Last weekend I went rafting with a bunch of friends. The water was pretty low, so we mostly just got stuck on the protruding rocks, but still had a great time. After 3 hours on the river, we took a short drive to a nearby bridge for some bungee jumping. I was too scared to take the plunge, but many of my friends did and could not wipe the smiles from the faces. That night we went out for dinner and drinks, while reminiscing about the day. My friend Rachel mentioned that she thought it was weird she did not sign anything before the bungee jump, which startled me and made me think. We did not get any kind of instructions before rafting, just life-jackets, helmets, water shoes, and a paddle.No papers were signed. It was much like the couple times I have rode ATV’s here (usually perceived as some-what dangerous). We were given no instructions, just a helmet, a key, and a time to return. Again, no paperwork.
It is very much different from my experiences doing ANYTHING in the U.S….and I think it is because in Korea people do not really sue. My friend was in a car accident (his taxi driver ran into a bus) and his medical bills were paid for and he was given 2 million (about $2,000) and nothing else was said. I don’t know if has to do with the language barrier, but that seems to be the way things work around here.
-
I have witnessed a couple Ajuma fights while living here. I have been slapped a couple times, mainly for leaving my bag slightly unzipped. They are pretty much the scariest thing in Korea. I would rather encounter a drunk homeless man in a dark alley than one of these feisty women.
After reading a thread on waygook.org, I learned that it is rude to cross your legs on the subway in Korea. There are various theories listed: buddhists believe pointing your foot toward someone is very rude since feet are the most unclean part of the body, perhaps people are concerned crossing one’s legs takes up more room or that passengers will brush up against an unclean shoe. Whatever the reason, someone posted this UNBELIEVABLE video, showcasing how completely nutty ajummas (older, generally cranky) women can be. This fourteen year old girl was crossing her legs on the subway when the ajumma went batshit. Note how little the other passengers react.
-
I read this book last month and am so glad I did. It is so well written and I also could not put it down. It sparked an intrest in me about North Korea, and I went on to watch every documentary I could find. I def. think this is a book that everyone should read.
I definitely recommend this book, too! Christine let me borrow this book last month, and I didn’t allow myself to sleep until I finished reading it. The author did a wonderful job depicting the lives of the North Korean defects while they were living in North Korea. This book really captured my heart knowing that I have relatives in North Korea that I don’t know about.
My father and his family escaped from North Korea when he was five years old. And while my mother was only four years old, her father, my grandfather, who was a professor at Seoul National University was sent away to work in North Korea. My mother hasn’t seen her father since :(
I just finished reading this book last week and I have to recommend it to everyone and anyone who is spending time in South Korea right now, or interested/curious as to what has gone on between North and South Korea.
This book really opened up my eyes - as a foreigner, and as someone who really didn’t have a clue or any knowledge of the Korean War, and how much the North Koreans have suffered up until this very day for over half a century. This book goes into detail about the hardships of select North Korean defects, and their struggles, starvation, sacrifices, as well as the lies and propaganda they were fed for decades from the North Korean government.
Although this book tells the story of defects (meaning they eventually escape to South Korea) don’t expect a happy ending - more hardships follow as they try to readjust and assimilate to the life and world they never thought imaginable. A country they used to be able to call home has now become a foreign land to them.This book further intrigued me in Korean history and culture. I am already looking into more books about the topic, as well as museums and tours to educate myself further. A definite trip to the DMZ is a must in the upcoming weeks to really drive the point home.
It blows my mind this is happening only two hours north of where I now call home, a place I feel so safe, secure and genuinely happy. To think of the differences between North Korea who is set back in time in their ways, and South Korea - one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, where three year olds carry cell phones, plastic surgery is advertised on buses and subways, the lights never go out, and gorgeous pop stars are idolized - really makes it unimaginable as to how they used to be one united country, and how the hope for reunification is more easily said then done.
-
My first Korean beach experience
.jpg)
Last weekend we had Monday off, so a bunch of friends and I took off to the beach to enjoy the warm weather (finally). There was a “sand festival” going on, so I knew it would be crowded, but nothing could prepare me for what I experienced.
There was not an inch of sand wasted. It was almost impossible to distinguish between groups of friends because everyone had to sit on top of the next group. The water was freezing for my taste, but that did not stop hundreds of people from renting floats and hopping right in. I have been told that in the summer it would be very hard to find a place in the ocean to swim because there are so many people…I am already on the hunt for a lesser-known beach.
The sun was hot, and as we went to remove my shirt to expose my swimsuit, I realized we were just about the only people around who remembered to bring our swim suits. The Koreans were running full speed into the ocean with their jeans, shirts and sometimes even long sleeved sweaters. The kids all had on shirts, some with jeans and some with underwear on the bottom. I did not see one kids on the beach in a swimsuit, much less an adult. I think it is a modesty/scared of getting a sun tan thing. We were also one of the few groups that were not under a big beach umbrella.
It was much like what I imagined Asians beaches to be like, but with even more clothes and even more people.
-
A nice stroll in the park….
My friend Gemma and I decided to go for a walk down to the main river that runs through Daegu. It was a gorgeous night, and a lot of people were out riding their bikes and enjoying the weather before the death heat ensues.
When we got down to the river, I noticed a woman walking with her boyfriend who seemed to be wearing his pajamas, but on closer inspection he was in fact in his hospital robe. If that was not enough, he was strolling along with an IV in his left hand pushing a metal pole holding that was holding the yellow bag of medicine that was pumping into his veins. I guess it was such a nice night out, not even an IV could stop him.
Unfortunately, this is very common in Korea. This is the first case I have seen someone stroll that far away from their hospital bed, but it is very common to see patients in their hospital outfits, IVs in their veins, outside on the streets….usually smoking cigarettes. OH Korea….
-
My friend is producing this documentary. I think it’s going to be really great for anyone interested in Korea or current Korean culture…check out the link, and donate anything if you can! They’re still in need of funding.
Donate to the production of a documentary on Korean education. This project will only be funded if at least $5,500 is pledged by Wednesday Jun 8, 3:29pm EDT.
“Hahn”
a documentary feature film .
What’s this film about?
“Hahn” hopes to explain a very important Korean concept— “한” or “hahn”, a Korean word for which there is no English translation. “Hahn’ is perhaps the driving force that brought South Korea from being one of the poorest countries in Asia to the world’s 13th largest economy in 60 short years. It is perhaps because of “hahn” that Korean students have some of the highest test scores in the world, and a higher rate of acceptance into American Ivy Leagues than any other foreign country. It is also perhaps the reason why, among developed countries, Korea has the highest suicide rate. It’s what’s making Korea one of the strongest countries in the world— but at the same time, one of the weakest.
“Hahn” will follow several Korean teenagers in the most stressful time of their lives- their last year of high school. After attending studying for roughly sixteen hours each day, their futures boil down to one last exam. On November 10th, 2011, thousands of high school seniors will take a nine hour test that for many, will determine their economic and social status for the rest of their lives.
“Hahn” hopes to reveal why Korean education is extraordinarily competitive, and how it came to be that way. But in order to do so, it must first explain “hahn”- a word for which their is no English translation, for few other countries have needed the word.For MORE INFO and to DONATE: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1877491487/documentary-on-korean-education
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
