The weekenders guide to getting the most out of the most important days of the week.

The past three weekends have produce there fair share of crazy fun moments and were without a doubt some of the most epic I have had here in Korea. I was about to write up a blog on how to have an outstanding weekend. But my friend and fellow teacher Justine Carlyle who I have spent the last three weekends with, beat me to it. So here is her Blog because I am lazy.

 you can read more of justines blogs a smelllikecabbage.blogspot.com

Get Your Balls Wet!

So the weather here in Korea has been getting much nicer, as you can probably guess.  Seeing as how I got here in the winter, I must have missed the memo that said I needed to pack summer clothes too.  This meant that I would have to go shopping for some Korean clothes, which I had been dying to do because some of the clothes here are very cute.  I was hesitant because I am not that small of a person in Canada, and here I am trying to find clothes to fit me in an Asian country.  I decided that it would be a great idea to go shopping with one of my girlfriends, and then we would meet some of our guy friends later in the evening.  Unfortunately, we decided that it would be a great idea to go out hard on Friday night, and norae bang it until morning.  Runing low on fuel we still managed to make it out again Saturday night, and still have an amazing time.

Because we managed to do this, without actually spending that much money, I thought it would be a great idea to write a guide for anyone looking to have a great time.  However, it is important to remember that these are just recommendations, and that your night may turn out quite differently than ours did.  But I guess that is half the fun.

How to have an epic weekend out in South Korea.

1. The Warm Up

Find a place to meet people where you can buy cheap and crappy beer, to figure out what you are going to do.  Drink a few of those beers to loosen up, which will make it much easier for you to make some fairly questionable decisions.  Try to make sure that you have a friend with a car, which will make it much easier and cheaper to get to your desired location.  It might be a little more difficult to get home, but that's not something that should be of concern.  It's all about the here and now.

2. Accept Invitations.

Don't turn down any invitation to go see people.  You never know where the night will take you, so don't question the company, the location, or the method of transportation to get there.  Just do it.  When you are willing to drop everything to go meet a friend, you are more likely to make the most out of opportunities presented to you.  Chances are you will have a good time because your sense of adventure is much higher.

3.  Drink Soju

Not only is Soju a great cleaning method, but it is also a very cheap way to drink.  The best nights I've had so far have been sitting outside of a Family Mart drinking soju and orange Fanta cocktails.  You don't have to talk over loud music, you can wander the streets while you are drinking, and you don't have to empty your wallet to have a drink.  You also have the opportunity to do things that you never would or could have done in a bar.  This includes climbing things, talking to random Koreans as they walk by, and running around city streets.  Good times.

4. Sing Your Heart Out

When the night feels like its slowly dying, hit up a norae bang.  A fairly inexpensive place to drink, sing your face off, and enjoy eachother's company.  You get your own room, you can have as many people in there as you feel necessary, and you are already drunk so it doesn't matter that you can't actually sing.  It also is a great way to ensure that you will be out until at least dawn, if not longer depending on your Agenda for the day.

Nori bang is a great way to come out of your shell and open yourself up for the situations you might be in for the rest of the weekend.  It will at least get you ready and in the mood to drunkenly belt out songs the next time you are sitting at a restaurant or bar.  What a great way to spend time with the people who are close to you?

5.  Don't Stop to Smell the Coffee

I would suggest actually drinking a coffee, maybe two depending on what time you got in the night before.  What I don't suggest is taking a break by sleeping for more than 3 or 4 hours.  This gives you too much time to sober up and develop a hangover.  Once that hangover hits you, you won't stand a chance at making it to the climax of the weekend.  Push through it, and when you start to crash get another drink into you.  The first beer of the day was much needed, and got us through the rest of the night.  It was a good decision.

6. Shop 'Till You Drop

Find a nice market, where the clothes are cheap and the stores are plenty.  The best thing about doing this, is that you will never run out of beautiful clothes to buy.  I may have spent twice as much as I had originally planned, I now have a new wardrobe with many wonderfully Korean looking clothes.  You can't have an epic weekend without a  few new outfits to wear out later in the evening.

7. Paper Planes

If you happen to meet your friends at a bar on the 14th floor of a building, you should make sure that you are sitting at a table near the window.  This makes it much easier to throw popcorn out of it.  Quite simple.  When the waitress isn't looking, throw a few pieces of popcorn out and watch where they land.  It is pretty cool getting down there and finding them again.  I wouldn't suggest eating them, though.

When  you get bored of popcorn, and you will, ask at the bar for some paper.  Have a paper airplane making contest with your friends, and then throw them out the window too.  This is for the same purpose.  Watch where they land and see if you can find them again.  You may discover that the paper planes fly much better from a 14th storey window than from the ground.  Who would have thought?

8. Get Your Balls Wet

I apologize if this sounds dirty or inpropriate, but this is exactly what you should do.  Get your PING-PONG balls wet.  After having a few drinks at an Irish pub and belting out songs around the table, it would be a great idea to head over to a Thursday Party to play some beer pong.  Make sure that you find a partner who doesn't like beer, .  That way, you can get two games worth for the price of one.  It would be even better if that partner or someone on the other team also pays for the game, that way you can make up for the amount you spent on your shopping spree. 

9. Out-Soju a Korean

The Family Mart patio is a great spot to find young Koreans who are willing to buy you drinks in exchange for conversation in English.  Even the University students who can pretty much only speak enough English to point out the fact that you are a foreigner and speak English.  They are also very taken aback when they see that you drink soju.  They may want to challenge you to a drinking competition, thinking that because you are foreign, you cannot possibly drink soju like they can.

While this may sound like a brilliant idea, it is only worthwhile if you are willing to throw up in the street outside of a Family Mart, and continue to pass-out on the patio of a burger joint.  You may also experience the feeling of worry and aloneness when you wake up on the street thinking your friends left you to sleep it off.  In reality, your friends found you a nice place to pass out, left all of their stuff with you so that they didn't have to carry it around all night, and THEN left you alone to sleep it off.  I guess its a good thing we have cellphones to get a hold of each other.  Korea can be a scary place.  So many ajummas.

10. Suicidal Rage

You may not decide to pass out yourself (as it was my friend who completed step 9), but before anyone does, you may want to keep your eyes up for clubs that may be on upper floors of some of the buildings.  Even more importantly, keep your eyes up for any friends that may have ran away and are now dancing out the window of one of these clubs.  Once you spot either of these things, join in.  Literally, rage suicidally.  Stand on the window ledge and dance your heart out for any Koreans that stop to watch the chaos.  In hindsight I see that doing this was one of the worst ideas ever.  Although I can't take credit for the idea itself, I have to say that I didn't put too much thought into the fact that I could have fallen out and broken my neck.  However, it was a pretty awesome situation to be in.  Too much soju.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Sunrise Mart Break

Once you've made sure that your soju soaked friend is safe and sound, and the club you were in has closed, take a break and enjoy some soju and Fanta at the nearest Family Mart.  It is really nice to watch the day continue to get lighter while reflecting on how wonderful your night was.  However, your night cannot be over, because you have not booked a hotel, and the subway hasn't started up for the day.  Enjoy that well deserved rest on the steps of the mart.  You are going to need it.

12. ?

This step is untitled because I'm not exactly sure how to explain this one.  Once you've finished your soju or beer and have made some wonderful new Korean friends, let them take you to yet another club.  As it is approaching daylight, those Koreans will take you to yet another club, where they will proceed to buy you shots of tequila and other wonderful treats.  Just be careful, because they may play a lot of dubstep at this club, which means using your reserve tank of energy.  This is why the early morning break was so essential.

You may also want to bring your sunglasses into the club.  Whether because it is the cool thing to do, or just to make the point that you are raging in a club while the sun is out, it is always an option.  Just be careful because I'm almost positive you cannot tsee much when the club is dark.



Of course you can add to or remove any of the suggestions here, to make the adventure your own.  You also want to make sure that if you leave anyone passed out somewhere, they are easy going and can laugh about the situation.  This is essential, because it could completely change the dynamic of the weekend.

You may also want to end off on Sunday with an 8 hour nap, fried chicken, and a movie.  I had the option to go play beach volleyball, but the alcohol was still flowing through my veins, and the bus ride was an hour long.  The nap sounded more realistic.

However you decide to enjoy it, I hope you enjoy your weekend the next time you decide to spring for an adventure.  Remember that the more you say no to things, the more you limit yourself on the amount of fun you may have but may also save you from passing out in the street in a strange city.

The Annoying Neighbors Up North

This Latest Blog is dedicated to the "Annoying Neighbors Up North". (If you live in Ohio think of Michigan if they had nukes ;)

North Korea is like an awkward 13 year old boy who just hit puberty and is trying to act tough but he just can't support himself because he keeps spending all his money on things like toys and love letters to the late Kim Jong il.  Then the moment comes along to show off his new toy to all his friends and he can't quite get his rocket up.... So the 13 year old goes back to ranting and raving about how he is going to use all of his toys to beat up the bigger kids on the block. Sigh...

Now besides being one of the darkest places on earth at night and letting the world laugh at you for failing to lunch another rocket into orbit. North Korea has done some pretty loony toony things in the past. 

In order to build good PR the North Koreans built an amusement park to attracted tourists. Unfortunately things didn't go well for the park partly because there is no ATM's, (no wireless in NK) No pictures allowed, no touching, no pointing, or no laughing at the statues of Kim Jong il. This sounds funny but when the park first opened a lady was shot for breaking one of the rules. (touchy touchy)

North Korea, as the annoying kid in class, just can't keep his hands to himself. He has to touch everyone around him, just so you don't forget he is there. In the 90s a tunnel was found under the DMZ (the strip of land with over 1 million landmines that separates the north and south.) In the tunnel was a banner that said "Down with the American Imperialists".  North Korea easily handled the situation by denying that the tunnel excised. Then when faced with the obvious proof, they said that it must have been the South Koreans who created it and put the banner down there. 

The best governing decision that the 13 year old hormonal teenage rulers of North Korea have done was when Kim Jong il in the late seventies was moping around in his palace, mad because he didn't have  anyone to play with. So Kim gets a great idea "Why Don't I make a movie that shows how glorious my state is!" And what was Kim Jong-ils favorite movie... Godzilla.  He looked around at the poor and military controlled country and realized no one here knows how to make a movie.

So he did the next best thing he kidnapped a Korean filmmaker and his wife put them in jail for 4 years while they created Pulgasari."  which is the charming story of a monster, originally created "for the people" who eventually turns on them after being corrupted by greed and capitalism. But the overwhelming power of the beliefs of the North Korean people defeats the rampaging monster.

Congrats to you North Korea for never conforming, and even though you can't feed your people or keep your lights on at least you have fireworks. 

Kimchi: The Spice of Korean Life.

I know it has been I while since my last post but life has gotten in the way. Well here is another food blog I hope you like it!

South Korea has burst into the twenty first century and today is a key player in the world economy. But it is not just economic progress that the Koreans are hungry for. Unlike Chinese and Japanese cuisines that have long been popular on the international dining table, Korean food is a relative new comer. Today Korean food and drink is quickly growing globally, whiping up a frenzy in the Asian culinary world.  Korean food is a story of a proud people that have been re-growing a food culture after a harsh twentieth century.  

When you walk into a Korean Restaurant you immediately feel the energy. dining is a central part of Korean life and is rarely done alone.  Its cuisine is a source of national pride and no food is bigger in South Korea then Kimchi. 

Kimchi is omnipresent at every meal. In America it would be like having one dish that takes the place of french fries, cheese, and salad all at the same time. In fact many Korean restaurants are judged souly on there kimchi.  It is great stuff with a strong smell and taste kinda like a spicy sauerkraut. 

When I first arrived in Korea I gave Kimchi a try and thought it was a strictly an acquired taste. It is made of Cabbage soaked in brine and rinsed, then layered with a mix of greens onions, garlic, soy sauce or shellfish sauce, ginger, salt and lots of red pepper flakes which is left to ferment as a pungent red mess. A Korean family's supply of Kimchi was traditionally kept in a big glazed jar and buried in the ground as a preserving stash of of goodness. It has vitamin A, calcium, more vitamin C than an Apple, it breaks down fats in the body, is low in calories, and high in fibre. And it has all kinds of immunizing properties helpful for fighting cancer and heart disease. So I have kept eating it until I thought to myself Hmmm..... that's not bad. Then one day nursing a hangover I discovered the usefulness of this amazing food. I was hurting and fuzzy as I walked to the restaurant, but minuets after eating kimchi's salty, spicy, and full crunchy favor I started to feel better. Hallelujah!!! It's like a bloody mary you can eat with chopsticks. Then before I knew it I was hooked on the stuff.  

There are many different kinds of kimchi depending on the vegetables used and the length of aging.To most Koreans a meal without Kimchi is unthinkable and I am starting to understand there thinking. It is the spice of Korean life and I am getting hooked on the stuff. This has to be a good sign of things to come in Korea! I will find the Seoul of South Korea this year. 

An example of how much Koreans love kimchi? In 2005 a report was released that due to the over consumption of kimchi by the average Korean it could not be completely good for your health…and as a result, the professor who released this statement received a variety of death threats.

The Squatty

Hello to everyone and welcome back to my small little world on the Korean peninsula.  Today we are going to talk about the easily the most disgusting topic to date.  It also might be the funniest. Imagine Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations if he didn’t need to edit it for cable.
This post has some educational bits, but it’s really about enjoying the not-always-so-smooth experience of travel.


Warning not for the faint of heart....

If there was one thing that I heard about before arriving in Korea that made me cringe, it was talking about the medieval plumbing fixture known to the westerner as the squatty potty.  I had heard from some people that I would probably have one in my house and I was not sure how to take this information.  When I arrived I was overjoyed to see that not only where those people wrong about there being a sqautty in my house, It took me two weeks before I finally stumbled on my first one.  Korea is a very developed as a nation and with all the western influence came... the western toilet. Almost everywhere in Korea now has the traditional western toilet and you must go well off the beaten path if you want to find a squatty.  But I have a real love for walking off the beaten path and so I not only have I found the squatties, I have become pretty good at using them.

My experience of learning to use a squatty potty has came over trial and error (and wet shoes and pant cuffs unfortunately – ewwww). Here’s a few tips that I gathered. This toilet is basically a porcelain hole in the ground,. There is no plumbing/flushing mechanism associated with this.  Upon first entering the foreign abode, you will be confused.  Do you stand over the hole?  Do you squat over the hole?  What if you are wearing flip flops?  Where do you stand exactly? You know you don't want a splash! So many questions; I have thought about them all while in the squat position! 


The first thing to know is you should stand on the place where there are ‘foot rests’.  This is normally signified by little foot platforms on the porcelain structure itself.  I’ve made the mistake of putting my feet outside the edges of the porcelain structure and it just doesn’t work as well, trust me.  Instead, you stand on the porcelain foot rests.  Always get your pants out of the ‘drop zone’ as best you can.  

Next you have to know how to squat.  I honestly learned this through trial and error.  I first tried squatting in a 2/3 squat.  However you’ll quickly find out that this still leaves about 3 feet between you and the actual toilet which give you the direct effects of the splash factor.   Just use your high school physics; the longer the drop, the more the splash.  You don’t want to come out of the bathroom with your pant legs all wet.  Or worse, your shoes all squishy.  It’s not fun. The best way to describe this is to get in a catcher’s stance, just like you are ready to receive the pitch from the mound.  Now if you are actually standing on the right spot on the squatty potty then you can look down and realize you are in the best possible position to make your move.

You may be wondering how I became so smart in the ancient ways of the Asian squatty potty?

I still remember the day that I finally figured this all out.  I was at a hiking a mountain on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. while resting at the top I began to feel a sensation in a tummy.... And because I have chosen to drink the tap water here in Korea, instead of bottled.  It was not a good kind of sensation. (I know this is my own fault.) I had very few options but knew there was a building at the bottom of the far side of the mountain and I thought it might have a toilet.  I hustled as fast as I could straight down a steep 2 kilometer slope while keeping the cheeks pinched. (Not fun or easy at all) I got to the building and saw that it of course had a squatty. There was no time to size up the matter as I was about to burst. I decided to try the catchers stance for the first time; it was then that I noticed it.  In front of me, on the stall door there was some Korean writing.  It was right at my eye level while I was in the catcher’s stance.  Eureka!!!!  I had found the sweet spot; they put writing here because that’s where your eye level is supposed to be! I was so damn proud of myself I wanted to explode! I came out of that little shanty in the woods a new man feeling successful!  At that time I also decided that I could probably make a little diagram for westerners and sell it outside of the squatty for about 100 Won.  Who knows, maybe that will be my next big business idea; Squatty Potty Cliff Notes with diagram.  I’m sure you would all buy it – wouldn’t you? OK.. maybe not. 

Hopefully this info will come in handy.  It’s the least I can do as it took me wet pants legs and shoes to figure this out.  Most of all, I hope this avoids you from having the ever having the so common ‘Asian travelers constipation’ (fear of going in the squatty potty).  Happy bowel movements to you all!

In contrast to the squatter, some western toilets offer an array of options, like a seat warmer, to make your time on the throne enjoyable.

Makkolli an Amazing Korean Drink and Why it is Being Marketed Wrong.

I have posted many pictures of funny Korean Marketing and I promise that more will come. That being said the following post is not about a funny ad.  It falls more into the classification that the Korean Marketers (and many followers) have there heads firmly stuck in there own ass when they promote Makkolli as a rice wine. (Sorry for swearing Mom) It shows a true ignorance of Makkolli, an ignorance of wine, and an ignorance of the brewing of alcohol in general. 

First off, let me tell you about makkoli.  It is Korea's Rice derived fermented drink, the best way to describe it is like Nigori Sake. It is unfiltered and looks milky white in the glass. (But unlike sake it only reaches 6% to 7% alcohol by volume.) It is  mildly sweet, tart and sometimes fizzy, it tastes a bit like fruity cream soda, with a kick. It sells green plastic bottles like Soju, but they are usually bottled in liter sized bottles.  It was originally popular only among farmers in Korea, earning it the nickname nongju — which translates as “farmer’s liquor.”   But in recent years it has been growing in popularity and spreading across the oceans and off the Korean peninsula.  I have even heard from the savvy Korean-American traveler that NYC has a handful of restaurants that are starting to stock makkoli. And with with Asain food taking off in America, a makkoli micro trend may be inevitable. But let me get back on topic. Makkoli is not a wine.



First off, I truly believe that the reason that Korean's call it a rice wine is to make it sound high class. It is not, it is cheaper then beer and a farmer's drink.  In most western countries the term "Wine" is protected by law, and makkolli doesn't fit into those laws. Set all this aside, because by calling it a "Wine" it doesn't do the justice to what a phenomenal brew Makkoli is. (I would know, I'm drinking one right now) Call me stubborn but sticking feathers up your butt doesn't make you a chicken.  Here is why Makkolli should be called a Rice Beer.



Wine is a natural fermentation that comes from the yeast and sugar found in fruit, specifically grapes.  Rice beverages get their alcohol from starch that is then turned into sugars mixed with water.  Rice can even be used in the brewing of barley and wheat beers because it is grain, but let me state this rice is never used in the brewing of wines. 

“But wait,” you may say, “Sake is made from rice and is called a ‘rice wine.’ And what about barleywine?”


OK excellent point, and there have been efforts to change those names as well.  Sake isn't a rice wine either. Sake is a grain alcohol, and is brewed and prepared more akin to beer. I said more akin.  Barley and and wheat beers have a two step brewing process where sake has a one step process.  As for Barleywine, it is traditionally called a "wine" due to the alcohol content, which is closer to wine.  and let me quote wikipedia on this “Since it is made from grain rather than fruit, it is, in fact, a beer.”  That being said I could hear people making an argument saying that barley wine and sake's alcohol content is closest to wine. Fair enough. But makkolli is not it, it has 6- 8%, which is close to what? Oh an Ale.... so you can't lump makkolli in with sake in this area.  Hey don't wines improve with age?...  Not makkolli that only has a shelf life of  2-3 months unless preservatives are added.  So makkolli, like beer (which has a longer shelf life), is best when you drink early.  Then it starts to degrade. 


OK put all of this aside, It is all about perception. When I am told I'm about to drink a wine I have certain expectations. When I am told I am going to drink beer I have others.  and when you drink makkolli, it fits in with the properties of drinking beer much more than wine.  To call it other wise is ignorant at best. 


Who cares, you may say. Well why bother classifying anything if your not going to classify something accurately. Don't be lazy and just lump everything that is made from rice into the category of "rice wine" It is more marketing speak from business men and politicians that are too ashamed of a great cultural product to call it what it is. So they try is spruce it up a bit. In fact makkolli has been largely ignored until recently when Japanese and Korean hipsters started drinking it and spreading it around the world.  So they put frilly clothes on it and started pouring it into Carafes. 


I think it is a bunch of crap and call it for what it is. A delicious rice ale. and I think it is awesome! Cheers! 

(apologies for grammar errors as I do drink while writing most of my blogs)

Ag

Culture Shock: Collectivism vs. Individualism

I really have come to love the Korean Culture, I have tried to embrace the people, places, cultural differences, food, and drink since arriveing.  But there has also been some things that I found difficult to adjust to. This post is about one of them. It’s about the challenges of someone – namely me – who was raised in a society that stresses the importance of the individual, and who moves to a society that stresses the importance of family (or society) over the individual.

I’m not going to try  and talk about which is better because frankly, I have no idea; they both have good and bad points. But I would love to share since arriving this fundamental difference in culture and society created challenges (mostly to my thinking) and also made my life more interesting and fun.

The USA, like most (if not all) western societies, stresses the importance of the individual. The US is perhaps the country with the strongest sense of this in the world. The laws and societal customs illustrate that the individual is paramount. Plus, I was raised to be very independent and to think for myself. This was very important to my mother and father, that both myself and my brothers do so. And so I grew up to be a very independent person. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Korea,is very different on the other hand, it stresses the importance of the family (and to a lesser extent, the collective or society). Part of this is because of the strong Confucian influence on Korean society. Because of this, many decisions are made by the family elder (the elder male in most cases) or by thinking about how it will affect the family. 

Until I went to Korea, I always thought my family was close and a very important aspect of my life. I visit my parents as often as I can.  not as much as I would like but as much as work, money and life will permite – when I lived in US My parents, brothers, and I would talk weekly.   Since I have moved abroad we still make time every sunday to skype for an hour or so to keep up. I’ve always spent quality time with them – I travel to ohio every year to watch the State Wrestling tournament with my family or we go hiking, play games, or just plan hang out with each other.  I always call and tell them about any important decision or event in my life and often ask for advice even if I don’t always follow what they say. But when I talk to them or ask for advice, it’s more for guidance or for a different perspective, there’s no expectation (on either side) that I will always (or even sometimes) do what they suggest.

Things are different in Korea. And before I get into more depth on how things are different, let me state that this is simply a general observation… it’s by no means true for all Koreans, nor am I trying to say if it’s a good or bad thing. Disclaimer aside, let’s get into the details! Traditionally, family is patriarchal and very important to the fabric of society in Korea. In fact, the family is probably the most important aspect of Korean life – filial piety is definitely encouraged! In Confucian tradition, the father is the head of the family and it is his responsibility to provide for the family, and to approve the marriages of his children. Confucian belief strongly encourages respect for family and elders and touts the importance of the male over female. Korean families were considered a “small society.” And so the idea of individualism generally wasn’t encouraged as the needs of the family were considered more important than that of the individual. First-born sons were/are responsible for taking care of their parents and younger siblings.

So how has this bit of culture shock affect me? Well, to be honest I still have a hard time understanding it.  I was looking at things through my American eyes and simply couldn’t grasp when some friends were talking about how a 20-something female acquaintance could still have a curfew or why that same female was being pressured to quit her job because she needed to get married.  I decided I needed to learn more about Korean culture to better understand.   

I have talked to some Korean friends about this subject and tried to research the issue on my own.  I have learned about Confucianism and its impact on Korean culture and I have grown to understand it a little better. And while I could never imagine breaking up with my girlfriend because my mother told me to, at least I could understand if this excuse was ever used on me.

Since being here I have found it goes beyond simple filial piety and duty. In modern Korea, many younger Koreans have to live apart from their parents because of work. So they often create a “family” of friends to keep that feeling of togetherness. And the whole country is almost like a large family. I honestly can’t imagine the USA – or any Western country for that matter – responding like Korea did when faced with a huge national economic/debt crisis in 1997 (referred to as the IMF crisis or simply IMF in Korea). Now if a family member or close friend needed financial help and I could help, I definitely would, (and have). But I can’t imagine donating my families gold jewelry to the Federal Reserve to help pay down our national debt. (No Way!) But that’s just what Koreans did. For more info, check out this BBC story. And if you really want to learn about the entire economic story behind it, check out this fantastic in-depth series of articles on Ask a Korean.   

So this is my long, and very rambling post about one of the differences between United States and Korean society that I found most difficult to understand, but in a way have to admire it (even though it still often confounds me).

Koreans can be awkward sometimes.

I will post another Blog later this week, but for now I just have to post this. I found this picture up for display at the photo studio at the M-Park building in Gohyeon.  Something went terribly wrong when the photographer was posing this guy.  I think he forgot to have him not cover his face.  Oops.