October 27, 2009
Fear and bathrooms in Korea
Korean bathrooms.
This is clearly one of the first things I should have written about. Korean bathrooms can be summed up in one word: surprising. It's always a experience with every new bathroom I visit.
Let's get right into the messy goodness that is Korean restrooms. Allow me to break this post into a few helpful points of interest:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Slippers -
Walking into all private and a few public bathrooms, one will undoubtedly notice the pair of clear plastic slippers greeting you upon entry. The curious foreigner might imagine that these were carelessly left by a forgetful family member or perhaps used when the bathroom floods. No, kind sir, these shoes are for you...and everyone else. That's right.... Show more
October 20, 2009
The Korean Squat – the only way to relieve those tired legs
The Korean Squat.
Don't lie. You do it sometimes when no one's around.
For the uninitiated, you are in for a treat. The Korean Squat (also referred to as the Kimchi Squat) is a great way to relieve tired legs whilst waiting for public transportation, using a large brown bowl, or just chatting with friends when chairs are MIA.
It's not terribly hard to see this on a daily basis. For that matter, there's no shortage of people posting photos of the peculiar act, either. Case in point: Here, here, here, and here. Even celebrities do it. Proof:
What I like is that the Korean Squat is not only applicable to Koreans - apparently many different people of Asian decent can do it with ease. White people everywhere are jealous. I can do... Show more
October 13, 2009
Beards and why they make you look dirty (Korean men and facial hair)
Facial hair in Korea.
First, let's take a look at some background source material. A selection from the American literary classic: A Brief History of My Face by Matthew.
I'm a hairy guy. I've resisted this natural protein growth by shaving, plucking, waxing and zapping my way to relative hairlessness in order to attract the opposite sex. I've endured scalding hot burns, embarrassing ingrown hair blemishes, and unspeakable pain as I have journeyed to a discover the perfect balance between 'naked-mole-rat' and 'rocky-mountain-man'. I've spent an innumerable amount of precious funds on razors, trimmers, creams, gels, lotions, and toners all in a vain effort to control my undying masculine mane.
But now, I shave my entire face... Show more
October 6, 2009
In your family, are you the Youngest? Oldest? Middle? (Korean birth order)
출생. Birth Order.
I would venture that most Westerners don't immediately think of birth order as a common source of personality distinction but that doesn't mean we don't think about it. Sure enough, once we get to know someone, we are not surprised once we find out that they are indeed needy for attention because they're the middle kid. To discover that a bossy 'A' type personality is the oldest in her family doesn't exactly shock us.
As someone who studied early childhood development as an undergraduate, I'm particularly interested in how birth order affects children and their personalities as they develop. Take a look at this chart for a typical Western perspective.
The main difference I find is that Koreans seem to 1)... Show more
September 30, 2009
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Welcome to the KoreanClass101.com newsletter. These periodic newsletters will deliver to you all the exciting developments that are going on at KoreanClass101.com. With each issue, you will receive the latest announcements, promotional offers, blog news, and forum news,... Show more
