Two items…

Steve as written in Hangul

There are quite a few questions I get asked about life in Korea. One surrounds the notion that all Asians are thin and the other goes to how Koreans speak English. So one this Friday night, I thought I’d tackle both in one blog post.

First, let’s try to tackle English pronunciation. The first thing one must realize when coming to Korea to teach, is that not all English consonants are used within the Hangul construct. This is why Koreans (and many other Asians) have troubles with the letter r and z. This is easily addressed in class, but one of the more challenging things to work on with students is the tendency to add a vowel sound to the end of an English word when none is present. For example, finished becomes finish-ed; age becomes age-e; Cass becomes Cass-uh.

While I am no expert, I believe I have found the most likely reason or this during my own language lessons in Korea, Philippines, and Indonesia. It has its routs in how the native language is written and spoken and forced into English rules. To get a full understanding of what I mean, I took the opportunity to write my name in Hangul on the left.

While in English, “Steve” is pronounced as a one-syllable word, the construct doesn’t exist in Hangul. Steve becomes a three-syllable word that does a great job of showcasing this speaking phenomenon. First, in Hangul, words are formed by joining characters to form syllables. They are pairs or triplets consisting of at least one consonant and one vowel. Each syllable must have at least two Hangul characters to work within the parameters of the language. The Hangul “-” vowel is pronounced as an “uh” sound and is also used as a place-holder of sorts when two different consonants are going to be pronounced back-to-back. So let’s take a look at Steve.

My name starts off with ST, but in Hangul, there must be a vowel inserted between the consonants; therefore the “-” is used after the “S” sound, represented by the ㅅ, and giving the initial syllable an “suh” sound. The next syllable creates the “tee” portion of my name. Since there is no letter “V” in Hangul, ㅂ is used to approximate the sound (a soft b/p). Just like the fist syllable, a consonant cannot appear by itself so it is joined with – . This gives is “Suh-Tee-Buh” as the Korean cognate. Given this two character rule, it becomes obvious why many Koreans add an extra syllable.

I often find myself interjecting English rules into Tagalog or Korean and making a mess of things. My students are simply doing the same and some extra time working on pronunciation is all that is needed to reinforce the differences between Hangul constructed words and those formed in English.

The second topic I want to address is the notion that people think that all Asians are thin. While it is true, fitness is a priority in many Asian countries, Korea included. However, Korea is quickly joining many nations around the world with larger and larger populations. I think this stems from a growing use of computer games and poor eating habits. Fried food is everywhere and the only thing that is more prevalent is alcohol. Adding those two items together is a recipe for obesity. The situation is getting so bad, that I routinely see stories on the morning news about how to curb the calories and eat healthier. However, what I was most amazed to discover today was a television show entitled Diet War. It sounds just like it is, the Korean version of Biggest Loser. This was something I was not prepared for and was quite startled to see.

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Pizza delivers…

Sometimes, I bite off more than I can chew.

I had planned only one day of down time during this vacation and thought I’d spend the rest of it traveling to various places in Korea and seeing a new thing every day.

It was a good plan, but after running around so much the past two months, my body found itself enjoying the ability to sleep in late everyday. And when push came to shove, it really loved staying in bed until 3pm on Thursday. It’s something that I’ve not done since college, and really don’t make a regular habit of, since I don’t like lounging around all that often. But I have also learned over the years to listen to my body.

When it says it needs a break, I let it have one. For I like to push it through to the extremes!

So today, I went out in the afternoon and had an Americano at my favorite place followed up by a quick walk to E-Mart to obtain some extra bed linens. Then it was attempt number two at getting some pizza to my room.

Now, since I’ve been back, I’ve had my fare share of pizza from a local joint, but like so many things, you can tell the difference between something that is inexpensive and something that costs a fair amount. Normally, I’m content with the W6000 combination pizza that I get delivered (for an extra W1000). But seeing this is vacation, I thought I would splurge and order Mr. Pizza (Love… for Women is their tag line… something I have research one day).

I tried to do this yesterday, but they have no English operators and my attempts at giving them my address failed miserably. It’s not because I don’t know where I live or how to pronounce it, it’s because when calling Mr. Pizza you call a centralized number and they farm the order out. I couldn’t understand what they were asking, so I couldn’t give them the information in the correct order. So today, I came up with a new plan.

Ask for help!

While I am slowly being able to become more proficient at reading Hangul, understanding and speaking it is an entirely different story. So my plan today was to walk into the building’s security office and have them give the directions to the apartment. It took a few minutes of comical explanations before they got the idea, but before long, they had given all the directional information and I was on the phone placing the order.

Twenty minutes later there was a ring at the door and my W21500 pizza arrived. It was very, very tasty and well worth the effort.

Enjoy your night and I’ll keep you filled in on the rest of my adventures this weekend… for nothing will stop me form exploring the fortress or Caribbean Bay!

AFK…

Where have you been???

Away From Keyboard

The past few weeks have been intense. You see, I’ve been running around with my head cut off, trying to get things in order before I depart on vacation. As a result, I have been away from the computer a fair bit of time.

Well not really away from the computer, but not working on public projects as much.

You see, we’ve started Summer Intensives at school. This requires an extra two hours of teaching each day in the morning. While this isn’t a problem for me, since I am a morning person, it does alter my schedule and what I can do the remainder of the day (e.g., go into Seoul or catch a movie before normal classes). It also limits some of my explorations to the weekend. And let’s face it, after a hard week of teaching, sometimes you just want to sit in bed or at the park and relax.

So, I’ve been doing a lot of that lately too. just relaxing.

Last week, I shot into Seoul after teaching morning classes to interview with TBS eFM. The interview was awesome. 40 minutes of discussion regarding their programming and my blog/youtube site. Everyone involved made me feel at home and helped tremendously in actually getting to the station, since I am not that familiar with the BLUE bus routs in Seoul. I’m hoping to get a copy of the final interview (which aired this past Sunday) and post it on YouTube (and here).

Over the past weekend, I had a side project to take care of: editing a scientific paper. One of the Korean Teacher’s husband is presenting a paper in Singapore later this year, and needed his English translation proofed. I spent a good 2 days going over the paper and correcting wording to make it more readable. I think if it had been a less interesting paper, I would have gone mad, but the topic was fascinating (guidelines for policy shifts when examining auto use vs. mass transit). In fact, I actually found it hard to stop editing the document because the implications were so far reaching.

The other project I’ve been working on as of late has been the latest edition of the YouTube Family Feud. These projects are a blast to film and edit. The primary reason for this, I think, is that the Feud is a classic game that even if you’re on the losing end of things, you still have fun. Furthermore, since we record the show live via Skype and there isn’t a conference call video option, the final edited product is the first time everyone sees what the other people were doing during the show. This was quite evident in the Aussie Feud when Dave gave his famous answer (check out 7:08 in the video). I knew it was going to be great TV, but I had no idea how great it was going to be. Since then, I’ve recorded two-thirds of another Feud (the cable internet went out at one of the participant’s pad during filming) and will be wrapping that up next week. Feuds are a great break for me, since it creates a challenge to edit and put it all together. I love how diverse it it.

But other projects are coming. This weekend, beginning tomorrow, I’m heading out of town for a few days. Thursday/Friday I’m sunning it up in Busan, and then returning to the metro area for an excursion into the mountains to take a look at a historical fortress. Sunday sees me galloping around Caribbean Bay and Everland. I also have a new project that I’m starting for school. The next issue of our book (slated to start in 4 weeks) has a story about the Anasazi and Mesa Verde. Since I’m familiar with those cultures and have tons of photos from Mesa Verde, I thought I would compile a short film on the park, people, and history for my students as aside (because the two pictures they have of Cliff Palace just doesn’t do it justice.

So, as I depart on my little summer vacation… Take care and please drop me a note and let me know what you’re doing.

An Aussie Feud!

I really love hosting the YouTube Family Feud. This week was no exception! Graham and Dave came along and provided some great moments. Check it out!

Funny stuff

When you’re learning a new language, it’s a given that you’ll have some missteps. In fact, when I look back over my attempts at learning Indonesian, Tagalog, and Spanish, I cannot  even begin to relate how many times I thought I said one thing but, in fact, said something entirely different.

The students at my school are asked to do many projects. Some of those activities include creating posters of stories they read. Given that English is a language that makes no sense most of the times, they do a wonderful job acquiring the language. But every now and then , they’ll miss a word in a sentence, and while the meaning is still clear, the wording and images that sometimes go along with it… well it causes one to bust a gut.

Here a little sampling of what I saw tonight.

Shopping at the market in Korea

I often get asked about how much things cost here in Korea. So I thought I would take you to the market and show you around.

Enjoy!

Say what???

Part of my morning ritual includes reading various news sources. It’s something that I started back in my college days that I have really come to enjoy. In fact, not being able to have quiet time in the morning to catch up on news makes me feel like I’ve lost out on something. Today as I was going through my RSS feeder, I was amazed at what I came across. In fact, I could not believe what I saw.

It does seem bizarre that, in 2009, a modern European nation would seek to shield religious belief from criticism – yet that is what is happening in Ireland right now. In repealing the 1961 Defamation Act, the Irish government sought to expunge the worst excesses of Ireland’s draconian laws restricting free speech, but in the process it has ended up making offending religious belief a criminal offence.

The full article can be see here.

What are they thinking? The article mentions that the Catholic Church is one to talk about taking criticism in the wake of its child abuse scandal, but to shut the door on criticising religion is a dangerous act. Many readers know that I a a devoutly religious man. The reason I am so, is because I ask hard questions about faith and challenge the status quo to find what is the truth. This act would seek to quell that behavior and criminalize it.

I find it particularly disturbing that the act gives authorities the ability to raid publishers suspected of printing “blasphemous” materials. All that the church has to do is state that something offends them and they consider it to be blasphemous, and BAM – fines are imposed.

This kind of censorship of free speech is severely outdated and needs to shelved. It’s a dangerous situation that could be easily expanded into to speaking out against the government (acts of sedition).

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Cloned Dogs???

Just before turning off the computer, I saw this news post regarding the use of cloned dogs to check for drugs at Incehon International Airport. Here’s the full article:

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has put cloned dogs on patrol to sniff out drugs at customs. Six genetic duplicates of a single Labrador retriever have been working at the country’s main Incheon international airport and three other customs checkpoints to deter drug smuggling after completing 16 months of training, the Korea Customs Service said in a statement Sunday.

They are part of a litter of seven born in 2007 through cloning a skilled drug-sniffing canine in active service. They were all named “Toppy” — a combination of the words “tomorrow” and “puppy” — but one dropped out of training due to an injury.

The cloning work was conducted by a team of Seoul National University scientists who in 2005 successfully created the world’s first known dog clone, an Afghan hound named Snuppy.

Leading the team was Prof. Lee Byeong-chun, who was a key aide to disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk, whose purported breakthroughs in stem cell research were revealed as false.

But independent tests later proved the team’s dog cloning was genuine.

The agency has said using clones could help reduce costs due to the difficulties in finding dogs who are up to snuff for the critical task of sniffing out contraband. Only about three out every 10 naturally born dogs it trains end up qualifying for the job.

What are your thoughts on cloning, stem cell research, and eugenics?

Cheers,

Steve

Great friends

I'm a Seoul man...

There can’t be enough said about the value of having a good friend(s). This is especially true when living abroad. One of the things I find most interesting here in Korea is the number of teachers who surround themselves with only foreigner friends. While I certainly  know many expats, when I recall the events that elicit the strongest emotions, it’s those activities I shared with my Korean friends that have had the largest impact on my life.

In fact, when I look at my mobile phone, I only have a few expats in the phone book. Those that I do have listed, are ones that tend to have been in Korea for a long time and have made their careers living and working here. I think this approach has made all the difference in my time here and my views on the future.

Last year, I had the awesome experience of traveling down to the KBS studios to see a live session of Music Bank and this year is already starting off an amazing note. First, as you might recall, I bumped into Kim See In one morning out in the quad. Over the past month, we’ve developed a strong friendship. Several times during the week, I’ll pop over to his club for some good conversation and a few songs (last night I belted out Under the Boardwalk as if I was one of the Drifters). But more importantly, I’ve gotten to know him as a friend and brother.

It’s that last statement that really gets to me, for in many ways he really is becoming my brother. We have so many similar interests, despite him being a number of years older than me and growing up half a world away. Probably the thing I find most ironic is the fact that is favorite on-line game is golf.

You see, when I was growing up, I owned several golfing games for my PC. I can’t even begin to recall the number of hours my friend (also named Steve) spent sitting in front of that old x86 playing Mean 18. many times when I stop by to see See In, he’s playing on the club’s computer and I’m instantly reminded of my youth. The advances in game play and graphics are marvelous. I simply sit next to him, have our great conversation and enjoy the experience.

Kim See In and I also have very similar tastes in music and outlooks in life, so it makes for a suitable pairing. This is probably of of the things I’m most excited about, for when Jo arrives later this year, he is already planning many places for us to go and experience. You really can’t ask for a better host.

The second thing that’s happened this time in Korea combines my love for interacting with my Korean friends and on-line activities.

Relatively early during my tenure at this school, it became known that I made videos and posted them on YouTube. This is partly because making short films is one of my hobbies, but also because when you search for various key words in Korea, I’m one of the first YouTubers that appear. In fact, this past week, we had a prospective student’s parent ask specifically about me after a search for Dongtan came up with my video about one of its parks. I found that quite amazing, since I never have mentioned which school. The other teachers get a kick out the videos as well, especially the ones that I do about Korea.

Because of this, I’ve been invited down to TBS eFM next week for an interview. The day will be jam-packed, as that morning we start Summer Intensives, so I will literally run form class to catch buses that will take me into Seoul for the recording. Then have a 40 minute visit discussing the radio station and my life as a blogger/vlogger on the Internet. Since I was first approached to do this, I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing and listening to eFM’s programming and have become quite impressed with it. This is mainly because it is really the only English Language radio station in Korea that has identified its audience as expats. Other radio stations have English Language programs, but nothing on the same scale as eFM. Furthermore, it has a great mix of comedy, news, and culture – making it one frequent destinations on the net.

I’m hoping that this interview leads to more contacts to that I can slowly make my way into a broadcasting career.

Cyber Attack????

The Video

Over the past week, the news feeds have been jumping all over the notion that North Korea carried out a wave of cyber related attacks against the United States and South Korea. These assertions have mainly come from South Korean investigators and have some merit, for some of the perpetrating computers did originate the attacks from within the borders of North Korea.

However, when you look at the details of the attacks, things just don’t ad up to a North Korea lead offensive. First, the state isn’t claiming responsibility. Kim Jong Il’s regime takes great pride at thumbing its nose at the west, and if they were behind these attacks, why would they suddenly change their modus operandi? Second, there’s the fact that computers from over 59 countries have been identified as receiving data from the attack. Something that a single state-lead attack would not like have as part of its plan. The final reason to suspect a North Korea lead attack, is that in these tense times, it would most likely be seen as an active act of aggression against the US and South Korea – something that would require a firm and decisive response.

I’m not sure who is responsible. Even today, reports from Vietnam security analysts are stating that the attacks may have come out of the United Kingdom. If someone in government jumps the gun and decides we need a regime change in North Korea, my fear is that it would greatly destabilize the area. Not in the sense that there would be a shift in power, but rather because North Korea is so impoverished. The humanitarian aide that would be required would be enormous. Furthermore, the drain on South Korea would strain its economy as well.