Blogroll: Happy Chuseok!
Chuseok (추석) is the most important national holiday of Korea. It’s billed to Americans as “Korean Thanksgiving”, which is supported by both holidays’ occurrence in autumn and the focus on food and family. But from what I’ve seen, there are more differences than similarities. Perhaps the most conspicuous difference is that the “family” focus of Chuseok is actually on deceased family.
Blogroll: The Limits of Language
A major component of adjusting to my new life in Hwacheon and South Korea more generally is learning how to communicate with my limited Korean. The intensive Korean classes I took at Jungwon during Orientation were equivalent to three semesters of college Korean classes and were taught by the best language professors in South Korea. Yet, Korean is a very difficult language for native English speakers so my Korean is still very limited and really mainly allows me to do everyday tasks and make some small talk. Since Korea is going to be my home for a year and the parents I am living with speak limited English I have had to devise new ways to communicate and form stronger bonds with the people around me.
Blogroll: Wired Nation
Korea is without a doubt the most wired place I have ever been. Living in this land of the LED, I, consequently, have become the most wired I have ever been. My eyes actually hurt from how much I have been staring at a screen all day so I want to keep this brief.