Korea

Randomly found the Lantern Festival in Seoul, May 10-12, 2013....

Fri, 05/24/2013 - 17:30 — fishstick

Randomly found the Lantern Festival in Seoul, May 10-12, 2013. Buddha’s birthday was May 18th, and the Lotus Lantern Festival was to celebrate the Buddha’s coming into this world. There were a lot of activities to participate in (e.g. making traditional Korean paper and paper lanterns) and ways to experience Korean culture and Buddhism.

Letter from Korea, May 2013

Fri, 05/24/2013 - 00:08 — conor_o_reilly

Suwon, South Korea
May, 2013

Dear Ireland,

I am Ireland. It’s mad. Over the weekend I became a country. In fact, little and humble me is now my country. I’m touched.

Actually, that’s an exaggeration. I’m not the country, I’m kind of representing the country in a kind of unrepresentative official but not so official way. You see it’s on twitter, and because it’s on twitter the non-believers will only consider it as hearsay, while the twitterati will revel and rejoice at this phenomenon. There are other things too but this will undoubtedly prove the most controversial point.

Inside Your Impossible World

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 23:34 — JPD does ROK

♥ Cute Korea: DIY Craft Kits

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 15:46 — Lamblet

I love the DIY craft sets that I see in lots of Korean shops. I couldn't resist this when I saw it hanging on the shelf of one of our local tat shops. Tash and I call them tat shops as they're packed to the brim with stuff that you don't really need, but as soon as you see it, you find yourself searching for an excuse to buy it. Usually they sell cheap stationary, bags, jewellery, sweets and knick knacks. Hours of my life have disappeared while I look around these shops and drool over everything. I'm surprised that I haven't been bankrupted by these shops yet!

Get your music on this summer in Seoul.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 23:34 — devanrosey

I’m all about the music. I am up for any concert, just ask. With only a few days left before I leave (tear tear), lately I’ve been reminicing about all I’ve managed to experience while teaching and living in Korea (Are you ready?). I am amazed at how much I have done in such a short amount of time, especially when I think about all the concerts I’ve attended. It seems like ages ago, but at this time last year I was preparing to witness Lady Gaga’s first and very controvercial world tour stop in Seoul.

7 Reasons You'll Love Teaching Abroad

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 21:53 — tgates209

Running into UNESCO volunteers

People who travel abroad to teach English do so for many different reasons. Some are paying off debts, some want to learn about a culture they are interested in, some want to meet someone, others for the increasingly popular "gap year" experience. The list goes on.

Jangnim: Humanizing My Dong

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 16:28 — JPD does ROK

This section of Busan gets a bit of slag. I remember looking at a comment thread on Koreabridge one time before I came back where one poster noted that if you breathe the air in Saha-gu (this town within a city where Jangnim is located), you instantly get AIDS. I have on more than one occasion referred to it negatively when someone asked where I lived, replied with, “huh?” and I had to tell them, “it’s next to Dadaepo,” to which the person would almost always say, “oh, wow, that’s so far.”

Foreigner’s Free Driver’s License Classes

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 22:06 — chrissantosra

Good news to those who have never driven before or would like to drive in Korea! ^^

May 15th was Teacher’s Day (스승의 날). In Korea, it is common for...

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 17:30 — fishstick

May 15th was Teacher’s Day (스승의 날). In Korea, it is common for students to give teachers presents on this holiday. I received one cake, one cheesecake, two watermelons, handmade cookies, facial mist, carnations, special writing pens, perfume, an umbrella, a decorative pin, body lotion, hand lotion, chocolate, and some other nick-nacks.

May is a month for families in Korea (with Parents’ Day and Children’s Day). I think it shows that a community raises a child. Still, it can be an overwhelming month of holidays in Korea. I’m looking forward to things slowing down for a bit.

Video: Buddha’s Birthday at Samgwang Temple in Busan

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 10:52 — Nomad Within

Korea |
asia

Busan | South Korea

Om mani padme hum or “Praise to the jewel of the lotus,”plays on the speakers outside a temple in Busan. The 2,500-year-old chant is one of the most important mantras in Buddhism. All around, a thousand multicolored lotus lanterns sway in the breeze. The sun melts below the mountains above. As if on cue from the smiling big-bellied man himself, the lights inside the lanterns turn on. The bright colors pop against the deep blue of the night sky. If this is what nirvana looks like, then I can’t wait to get there.

Korean War "Tootsie Roll" Campaign

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 22:35 — tgates209

Korea

The Korean War influenced the world today in many ways. War, in general, has so many stories that the common man will never know let alone appreciate. I came across this video put out by the National Museum of the Marine Corps and it brought to mind the conditions and sacrifices that so many Americans faced for a war of faith. Faith that democracy and freedom ultimately eclipse any other form of government in the world. So much faith that they fought in a land that wasn't even their home. Stories like this remind me of the many sacrifices of our nation.

Remember and pray for our troops! God bless America.

George W. Bush Was Here: Nurimaru APEC House

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:09 — Nomad Within

asia |
Korea

It’s not much of a claim to fame, but yes, “Dubbya” and a handful of the world’s most powerful had a summit meeting in 2005 here. The website for the building says, “The name Nurimaru APEC House is created by combining the Korean words nuri (“world”) and maru (“summit”), and “APEC House,” which refers to an APEC conference hall.” What they don’t tell you is that if you go in the bathroom on the second floor, you can see where The Man scribbled “GWB was here” on the wall.

About the photo

This is one of the most iconic images and structures in Busan. Not only do you have the APEC House, but you also get the Gwangan Bridge in the background. To get to this point just go to Dongbaek Island, next to the Westin Chosun Hotel by Haeundae Beach. There is a path that leads out to the house.

고맙습니다, 선생님! (Thank you, Teacher!) ^^

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 20:49 — chrissantosra

May 15th is Teacher’s Day in South Korea. On this special day, students give their teachers carnations or thank-you letters. Some prefer to give cosmetics or chocolates.

My Korean students usually write me letters or give candies and chocolates on Teacher’s Day.

There are a few things that frustrate me about Korean...

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 17:30 — fishstick

There are a few things that frustrate me about Korean culture/language. One of them is the fact that they call non-toasted bread, toast (토스트). My mom and I have definitely quarreled over this. She’ll ask if I want toast, but she’ll put jam on my bread without toasting it.

Our conversations usually go like this:

Me: “That’s not toast! That’s bread!”

Her: “It’s 토스트!”

Sigh.

The Lost Seoul to Detractors: The Yen Taketh Away

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 14:21 — thelostseoul

Korea

S&P is way up, but the JPY is keeping the KOSPI flat at best

Popular Press Has Caught Onto What Readers of this Blog Already Know

I receive a fair amount of ridicule from readers that have said that my observations regarding the JPY/KRW rate was a gift to Korea. it was a gift that certain chaebol have used to build their competitiveness on the global stage. However, that advantage is now gone: the KRW/JPY rate has returned to its pre-financial crisis levels.

Bank of Korea Had No Other Choice


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