tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83203216995892528702024-03-06T01:54:52.351+09:00Abby Off-AirAbby Rhodes is an American broadcaster working for the Korean Broadcasting System in Seoul, South Korea. Catch her KBS World Radio programs by going to world.kbs.co.kr/englishAbby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-86155604306051072842009-06-12T13:38:00.012+09:002009-06-12T15:11:20.181+09:00Shedding light on the "black box"<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyPHmnXiK672F3LTLwj7nQmHbIVi3Z2dEzteYhsuRaJavYLofKyT97XNqYBpIzVEv1hyphenhyphenMRUcXXC8_-jf7yQS0zRTIalA_zqCq8FtsRF3p39RMiSAtYgYJ1Da3gJFsimgo4hVdvR-vZsOU/s1600-h/Lee_Ling.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346316002086370258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyPHmnXiK672F3LTLwj7nQmHbIVi3Z2dEzteYhsuRaJavYLofKyT97XNqYBpIzVEv1hyphenhyphenMRUcXXC8_-jf7yQS0zRTIalA_zqCq8FtsRF3p39RMiSAtYgYJ1Da3gJFsimgo4hVdvR-vZsOU/s400/Lee_Ling.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Current TV journalists Euna Lee (L) and Laura Ling were sentenced Monday to 12 years in a North Korean labor camp</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1MT4JRxuBRpoyOzCdQGqsYRo7FHCsqf9WxhPzuin3zLw3CbJDxZp54odkhXzr3Q6-c0q1R0acb27DNzouXP3CZmqGL4D-MDwYdiilB5W4gC80qnwQHlA1Ms-vG33dJqm8e4bg4i1mHQj/s1600-h/KBS_reporter_Lee_Woong-su.bmp"></a><br /><div align="left">The case of San Francisco-based Current TV journalists Euna Lee (a Korean-American) and Laura Ling, who were sentenced by a North Korean court earlier this week to 12 years in a labor camp for illegal entry and an unspecified "hostile" act, has been grabbing a fair amount of coverage in the South Korean press. The story has even topped reports of another disturbing detainment case involving one of the country's own, a South Korean employee of the the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex who's been held in the North since March 30 on charges of criticizing Pyongyang and trying to lure a North Korean worker into defection. </div><br /><div align="left">Covering North Korea can be both professionally challenging and potentially dangerous for journalists. Scoop-seeking reporters can hardly resist the temptation to snag exclusive photos across the heavily guarded border, and those who actually work their way into the secretive state are considered the lucky few, even if they're mostly fed propaganda and presented with an inaccurately attractive view of the place. But as long as the North remains an elusive, trash-talking, rights-violating nuclear threat, people will look to journalists to provide an inside look, however narrow it may be, into Kim Jong-il's bizarre regime. Although media reports have been fact-based and offer little editorial comment about Lee and Ling's case, I've heard several comments suggesting the reporters <em>should</em> be punished for hindering U.S. diplomatic efforts with North Korea, if not by North Korea then by their own government. Pyongyang is widely considered to be using the Americans as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Obama administration, a tangled mess that many would agree didn't need additional knots.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29tQiPUCiDbAqz39FTcRWsHFk_NMDEafbPqh0UlMXEC_dCoBpzB9T7PoIjt9AdVCpzHi3v9WE1oqk41ZuNEbKvrjX8NB5xLzDiWId5dmvse3GtVeHRoYhVS6tQ0YZI8paLXv4eV46MeNe/s1600-h/KBS_reporter_Lee_Woong-su.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346316676835777618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29tQiPUCiDbAqz39FTcRWsHFk_NMDEafbPqh0UlMXEC_dCoBpzB9T7PoIjt9AdVCpzHi3v9WE1oqk41ZuNEbKvrjX8NB5xLzDiWId5dmvse3GtVeHRoYhVS6tQ0YZI8paLXv4eV46MeNe/s400/KBS_reporter_Lee_Woong-su.bmp" /></a>This week I had the opportunity to interview someone who faces the challenges of covering North Korea on a daily basis, KBS domestic television reporter Lee Woong-soo (pictured at left). Mr. Lee's comments were included in Thursday's edition of Seoul Calling. Here's a transcript of the interview: </div><br /><div align="left"><em>AR: Can you explain some challenges you face as a reporter when covering stories about North Korea?<br /><br /></div></em><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><em>LWS: North Korea is commonly known as the 'Black box' because it's extremely hard to gain access. This is very inconvenient for a reporter. Materials and data are also very rare. All the information we get is from either Rodong Newspaper or KRT(Korean Central News Agency), which are North Korea's own news sources. There are also North Korean defectors, but their information is very restricted and hard to verify.<br /><br />AR: Do you think coverage of North Korea has changed under the Lee Myung-bak administration?<br /><br />LWS: Of course it has. Not only between the North and South but also between the North Korea and America so as a whole, the news content has become fairly negative. The maintenance of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, missiles and nuclear tests, to name a few. It seems as if this state will continue for some time now. Regarding the past, diplomatic conversation almost always followed extreme circumstances, so hopefully, this tension will soon ease.<br /><br />AR: As a reporter, do you find it frustrating to cover stories about a secretive nation?<br /><br />LWS: As I've mentioned earlier, North Korea is a strictly controlled nation. It not only controls the citizens but also the flow of information, both in and out. No other country can match their system of control. North Korea only reveals information that works in their favour. Besides, The North's and South's relationship has worsened recently so it's even harder to gain access. North Korean related materials are difficult to verify so if anything happens in the North we feel extremely trapped.<br /><br />AR: What do you think the South Korean people want to know about North Korea?<br /><br />LWS: South Koreans want to know a lot about North Korea. Almost everything, to be clear. They want to know the North's way of thinking, and living. Because North Korean problems have a great political, economical, and social influence on the South and because of the belief that one day we will unite as one whole nation. The issue of the day might be the North Korean regime, or in other words, the destiny of Kim Jong-il's regime.<br /><br />AR: Do you think journalists who cover North Korea have a responsibility to avoid dangerous situations that may impact their country’s diplomatic efforts with the North?<br /><br />LWS: I think so, yes. The media should work towards keeping an eye on National Policy and informing the public, but not towards hurting national interests. Of course national interests should be differed from interests of the regime. Diplomatic issues are often [dealt with] in privacy. Especially the North. So the media should find a means of balance between the public's right to know and protecting national interests. Neither slanting towards the other. It's a very sensitive issue, like walking on a tightrope. </em></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-82268363356070065152009-06-11T09:14:00.015+09:002009-06-11T14:36:56.870+09:00Democratic fervor continues 22 years after historic movement<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhF735sLeMbuHtguBmOAr_IHyrXiLmVfMHU8IBkYow8wZPdfHKFoyULJCQfwVciLlJQAgqkFcGQzu9mBkB7TvmnWitWLusl7qaeZ_QRoFES8AiUfvJDYHALCm7eEW5T6CrqOIjQ9Y0ew1/s1600-h/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_top"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345936573257965010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhF735sLeMbuHtguBmOAr_IHyrXiLmVfMHU8IBkYow8wZPdfHKFoyULJCQfwVciLlJQAgqkFcGQzu9mBkB7TvmnWitWLusl7qaeZ_QRoFES8AiUfvJDYHALCm7eEW5T6CrqOIjQ9Y0ew1/s400/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_top" /></a> Wednesday marked the 22nd anniversary the June 10th, 1987 pro-democracy movement that led to South Korea's first direct presidential elections. Koreans struggled for their still-young democracy and now they're using their hard-fought rights to speak out against the current Lee Myung-bak government. This year's June 10th commemoration comes on the heels of the death of a former president known for his efforts toward democratization. His suicide added fuel to the fire of government opponents who accuse the Lee administration of infringing basic freedoms, such as the right to assemble and freedom of speech. Despite a police ban on yesterday's demonstration, some 30-thousand people flooded Seoul Plaza downtown. They were joined by about 12-thousand police officers. Although police attributed the ban to the chance that the gathering could turn violent and disruptive, the event was mostly peaceful. Local media are highlighting some isolated scuffles between police and demonstrators, but compared with the anti-U.S. beef rallies that grabbed international media attention last year for their violent clashes, yesterday's gathering was much less volatile. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Thursday's <a href="http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/radio/">Seoul Calling</a> program features interviews with some rally participants. My Seoul Calling co-host, Matt Kelley, and I were on the scene Wednesday evening. Thanks to Matt for these photos, which he shot while I conducted interviews.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRZnK-E9uhxcT5JrfELeoS3h4xNxr9hrkFN0fWtHrvGSX7zL0uoy9lKPCuLYX6aVFy0FamjQGybiRpkT3Jiavsn2w31EfljiUPPyjTcDFNVY7SqXXiAE5_VvyUnrBAgXoa21ES_pOz3az/s1600-h/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_Myungdam"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345936956576595282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRZnK-E9uhxcT5JrfELeoS3h4xNxr9hrkFN0fWtHrvGSX7zL0uoy9lKPCuLYX6aVFy0FamjQGybiRpkT3Jiavsn2w31EfljiUPPyjTcDFNVY7SqXXiAE5_VvyUnrBAgXoa21ES_pOz3az/s400/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_Myungdam" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaapEXdYmCqPiLunbbVoqzA1AqOLYMlkkQ-tlXKql331lezItnDcxwKm-tduuCwbERWGXRSGGbMyld8jtL-t0L6UlW6uzXnBCN7uNTyzdOKICsYa3iO0EqupUd5iQxuFpafgysj8jhiOjJ/s1600-h/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_students"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345936902375226786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaapEXdYmCqPiLunbbVoqzA1AqOLYMlkkQ-tlXKql331lezItnDcxwKm-tduuCwbERWGXRSGGbMyld8jtL-t0L6UlW6uzXnBCN7uNTyzdOKICsYa3iO0EqupUd5iQxuFpafgysj8jhiOjJ/s400/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_students" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYVS7nI1fl1lZ1PDpTzRk7_0lxGxX6yNp7OVCJih9oaVSvznFm_-UGvCHhUGc7zBFMVEdjxNUiOFqVbMb_owptZ8nsQ7TwM-JC62aGDTFbIivDhNqvExZVhDvipwpIixECRO57PjAtWau/s1600-h/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_61009"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345936690364131730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYVS7nI1fl1lZ1PDpTzRk7_0lxGxX6yNp7OVCJih9oaVSvznFm_-UGvCHhUGc7zBFMVEdjxNUiOFqVbMb_owptZ8nsQ7TwM-JC62aGDTFbIivDhNqvExZVhDvipwpIixECRO57PjAtWau/s400/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_61009" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqKCmF1M68JPzHKthFQpsyEjeb-YozGd9Gwjmo0nCJEgnBUTvABkASojDYmYoCiqC3HfXGE1p9Lc5jreyleEgKi4wDsyp1ZYXyNB8rj6q11r4list5FT2l48H-6E2N8dR8hpgb3B0qLmq/s1600-h/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_vendor.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345936840052219378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqKCmF1M68JPzHKthFQpsyEjeb-YozGd9Gwjmo0nCJEgnBUTvABkASojDYmYoCiqC3HfXGE1p9Lc5jreyleEgKi4wDsyp1ZYXyNB8rj6q11r4list5FT2l48H-6E2N8dR8hpgb3B0qLmq/s400/Seoul_plaza_demonstration_vendor.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq099KGB3ElHZpg9YoHjRlJLXOzsD1_PYKNlTmKZG0ufKqPX1J7yfBLw6UuNMPu4m_K9g44ooXpXdt85Hk8KOya3oQ_59a2WqRVMkbqJR8uhTEHi2RT2RXrU1rECEHVPR8Bh27NAlj1C6i/s1600-h/Seoul_plaza_demonstration.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345937881793904786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq099KGB3ElHZpg9YoHjRlJLXOzsD1_PYKNlTmKZG0ufKqPX1J7yfBLw6UuNMPu4m_K9g44ooXpXdt85Hk8KOya3oQ_59a2WqRVMkbqJR8uhTEHi2RT2RXrU1rECEHVPR8Bh27NAlj1C6i/s400/Seoul_plaza_demonstration.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-64162683878336263542009-06-08T15:32:00.000+09:002009-06-08T15:33:20.791+09:00Lady-friendly Seoul<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV36sQK8UaGeVK0NxE650n162MePLsLKQPNE-smXCD5ATkc-SJZWbEXje4qHuFYDGIVAO4u4fNATy3cQWhYB8RCyip48K0IKN9244k8rIDJ6vN2s_sUX9cqUlGlt549QWlwbmPQJtyT3c/s1600-h/Lady_spots_Seoul_Mokdong.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344828525845615954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV36sQK8UaGeVK0NxE650n162MePLsLKQPNE-smXCD5ATkc-SJZWbEXje4qHuFYDGIVAO4u4fNATy3cQWhYB8RCyip48K0IKN9244k8rIDJ6vN2s_sUX9cqUlGlt549QWlwbmPQJtyT3c/s400/Lady_spots_Seoul_Mokdong.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Ladies only parking in Mokdong, western Seoul. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">It's fun to imagine what the half-circle could be if not a skirt. Surfboard? Sunset?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">In late April the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to make Korea more female-friendly. Sounds great to those of my variety, but some the ideas put forth by the overwhelmingly male-staffed government to reach this goal are at the same time humorous and mildly offensive. Parking spaces designated as ladies-only have been a big media attraction. Complete with pink paint and skirted icons, the spaces certainly brighten up the city's public parking areas. Perhaps its not the idea itself that's questionably altruistic, but the way in which officials and media are describing it. Take, for example, this passage from the <em>Korea Times</em>:<br /><br /><em>The spaces will be painted pink with emblems of women in the center. The special parking lots will be longer and wider than normal parking spaces.</em><br /><br />I guess stereotypes of female drivers are cross-cultural. Some web browsing tells me ladies-only spaces in other Korean cities may utilize differnet emblems to keep men at bay. Although the design below is purtier, I prefer the more elusive skirt/surfboard/sunset option. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiy9j_wLuW7bCP3burrQDPK6lj_KZe_1qKFsofNciTyqUx1Mxv_z6Xw-FDRNZelbkWVafb4hSOsUka7OIIwQKvjGZJ2iP1jcCWiECKJY6etma91N_1kzGvyEKtXYF5kZnmL9Z9C23Zrk/s1600-h/Iksan_ladies_only_parking.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344839707591770418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiy9j_wLuW7bCP3burrQDPK6lj_KZe_1qKFsofNciTyqUx1Mxv_z6Xw-FDRNZelbkWVafb4hSOsUka7OIIwQKvjGZJ2iP1jcCWiECKJY6etma91N_1kzGvyEKtXYF5kZnmL9Z9C23Zrk/s400/Iksan_ladies_only_parking.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Iksan opts for floral feminine markers</span><br /></p><p align="left">Although I don't drive in Seoul, I'd be more inclined to take advantage of the exclusive spots in a huge city where vehicles are plentiful and parking is scarce than to complain about sexism. The female-only spots are also reportedly well lit and located nearer elevators, exits, and security guards.</p><p align="left">The media's go-to government spokesperson on this issue is Assistant Mayor for Women and Family Affairs Cho Eun-hee. Ms. Cho told the Korea Times, "It is like adding a female touch to a universal design and make things more comfortable for women."</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydAjMPQNOlYCpWKapv9OXhgUQviB9Oqbm8Lj9YZMxyYpxvxhNj6UI4rzRw9WP7ezYl7zt2U9lEfgkTusM8zT-7wI4AVHFp7r_k9iC-7LxcUjjq4yr-mf6-cNCpztSWxqLCoh9ZM8pkqk/s1600-h/Lady_spots_Yeoudio_park.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344829633726273730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydAjMPQNOlYCpWKapv9OXhgUQviB9Oqbm8Lj9YZMxyYpxvxhNj6UI4rzRw9WP7ezYl7zt2U9lEfgkTusM8zT-7wI4AVHFp7r_k9iC-7LxcUjjq4yr-mf6-cNCpztSWxqLCoh9ZM8pkqk/s400/Lady_spots_Yeoudio_park.jpg" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Ladies only spots flank Yeouido Park</span> </p><p align="left">The <a href="http://anicedayinseoul.blogspot.com/2009/03/she-parking-spots.html">she-spots</a>, as my friend Matt likes to call them, are just part of the city's plan to make the ladies happy. In fact, the "Women Friendly Seoul" initiative is a 95-million dollar endeavor which includes installing nearly 7,000 female toilets around the capital and replacing heel-eating brick sidewalks with a more stiletto-friendly squishy surface. Personally, I'm a big fan of the bouncy sidewalks. Some even offer a deceptive brick-like design that once made my sister-in-law believe she had drunk one two many glasses of soju with dinner.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1_r-iFJux-2AeV8LdIaC9ulS10CmUr7z4wYjrmeykslC1vAbqZppIK6DM0_0FnpnoudFHw0S5sYiDnWkFS7vCfXi2CPLthyPFmhOgVdGtu_fPWOVJVs7fq0RxsGNd1eYka41G1Z58jI/s1600-h/Lady_spots_Seoul.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344828603758633490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1_r-iFJux-2AeV8LdIaC9ulS10CmUr7z4wYjrmeykslC1vAbqZppIK6DM0_0FnpnoudFHw0S5sYiDnWkFS7vCfXi2CPLthyPFmhOgVdGtu_fPWOVJVs7fq0RxsGNd1eYka41G1Z58jI/s400/Lady_spots_Seoul.jpg" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">You can see a green squishy sidewalk in the back, left corner</span><br /></p><p align="center"><br /></p>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-65458646859930842612009-06-08T13:41:00.004+09:002009-06-08T14:12:14.383+09:00Spicing up public transportationDecorations abound in Seoul area public transportation these days. Silk flowers grace the interiors of city buses that serve my home-work route, along with banners declaring something about love, flowers, and Gwangmyeong City. I remember similar scenes aboard the same buses around this time last year, so it's possible the floral outpouring is in observance of May's family-focused holidays (Children's Day on the 5th, Parent's Day on the 8th) and Teacher's Day on the 15th.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VeBvn5ezt35mdclyzOvopnWPvTS6SdOpMldLrZOQgEA4uvizKHGf7R4Qp14z9_YvIbhevNOjOiF4WZxxZvnwbz5A8NkS4VRec6krAlLoQ8Y4yuN557JT_ws6s2JddTUtvGqQtZEPNs7W/s1600-h/Seoul_city_bus_flowers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344818724888861842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VeBvn5ezt35mdclyzOvopnWPvTS6SdOpMldLrZOQgEA4uvizKHGf7R4Qp14z9_YvIbhevNOjOiF4WZxxZvnwbz5A8NkS4VRec6krAlLoQ8Y4yuN557JT_ws6s2JddTUtvGqQtZEPNs7W/s400/Seoul_city_bus_flowers.jpg" /></a><br />Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera in hand over the weekend when I noticed strings of fake garlic hanging overhead in my subway train. The garlic, along with some scary-looking faux birds (I'm an ornithophobe), plastic crabs, and posters with scenic shots of Korea's western coastline were promoting the city of Taean. The region was struck by the nation's worst oil spill in December 2007. Since then, you can imagine why the once bustling fishing town has seen a decrease in visitors anxious to taste the local fare. Recent news reports say the water is clear these days, and the residents are no doubt hoping the government's efforts to draw visitors back will prove effective. KBS colleage Sarah Jun recently visited Taean and said she didn't encounter many crowds during her visit, but she did reluctantly indulge in some clams, from which she reported no ill side effects!<br /><br />I'll try to catch the Taean subway car (Line 1) sometime this week and share some shots of the non-odoriferous garlic. (In my experience, public transport around Korea is already plenty redolent of garlic fields.)Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-51204360299037382882009-05-18T17:57:00.002+09:002009-05-18T18:01:08.878+09:00To all the teachers who told me to shut my trap . . .<div>Because I was born on July 25, 1982, in the wee hours of the morning my wealth in life (although still unrealized) will come from my mouth. That's according to a fortune teller in Seoul's Myeongdong neighborhood to whom my friend Maria and I paid a visit Sunday evening. Fortune telling is called 사주 (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">saju</span>) in Korean and practitioners are generally well-respected and curiously trusted. After asking for your four pillars -- year, month, day, and hour of your birth -- fortune tellers consult something of a trade bible of Chinese characters that apparently tells them when you'll marry, what kind of career you'll have, and possibly that your body will have a difficult time breaking down alcohol in your later years (at least that's what my fortune teller told me--bummer). <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Fortune telling is quite popular in South Korea with "professionals" commanding about 50 bucks for some quick projections about career, love, and health. Venues ranging from ramshackle street kiosks equipped with kerosene heaters through Seoul's brutal winter to stylish coffee shops draw intrigued customers around the clock. Some fortune tellers sell their wares over the phone or through the Internet. The fortune telling business booms around the beginning of the year but it seems to attract customers year round.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrn9xuPqVLAxxcdEgDYaAtaJS_7EONMnGaVOa7N7UjSyyWb5Oikib9T0g4uq8nGpaipPG95eAX_FtF2nU9uw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maria's reading </span></div><div><br /></div><div>Maria served as an eager interpreter through my reading, expressing what the fortune teller was saying through at times extremely comical direct translation . As Maria delivered each prediction in English, the fortune teller would pause, lock eyes with me, and nod repeatedly with a solemn stare, coaxing me into belief. I took hurried but comprehensive notes. Here are a few of the things my fortune teller predicted:</div><div><br /></div><div>-There will be many students in my future; I will likely teach at a university (woo hoo!)</div><div>-I make money with my mouth (direct translation)</div><div>-My words are like a never-ending waterfall and public speaking is my strong point</div><div>-This year or next would be a good year for me to get married</div><div>-The end of this year will be very busy for me and will likely include a major move or travel and a new job</div><div>-My character won't change as I grow old</div><div>-My parents really like my boyfriend</div><div>-I'll work professionally into old age</div><div>-My health is good, but my body will have problems breaking down alcohol later in life</div><div>-November 2009 will be a lucky month for me</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStGOpRmtXJkJHVJlVSJa3AfYaVjbKOfLyf9kFGfrq8z1yB0-2Mre4M-5_ZRAcp9gMf5BQiBeyK_qtiqfgXzAkDfcZA4Jyqo6VASCwkz8Fe3JdrIYUqAUOerb1A4V-7j0vHqaEgPYe1FQ/s1600-h/IMG_7344.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStGOpRmtXJkJHVJlVSJa3AfYaVjbKOfLyf9kFGfrq8z1yB0-2Mre4M-5_ZRAcp9gMf5BQiBeyK_qtiqfgXzAkDfcZA4Jyqo6VASCwkz8Fe3JdrIYUqAUOerb1A4V-7j0vHqaEgPYe1FQ/s400/IMG_7344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337049921411829426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The cafe walls are plastered in customers' post-reading reactions</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykvUYG4AQW_w4d4AJmbpl5xXESkz7o7l6HiLkIFCojEo4kQ-5yxVe7Jat6UcBu7_SXO3aV9d3cuJFjSsXaBA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maria with a recap</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-17056412310542347762009-04-19T18:13:00.001+09:002009-04-19T18:19:05.928+09:00Busan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVXmhwK3H3JVVvCq0QT0_QgickabKQ-cI88z0sKW1Ynkpii2bm8JAJ9MpROpQMy7-PHk0A8l66wpX9xyX1vwvsLOt2poAAn80qgyH99o1CSI1-LcVQBDnBvq0ovVBlia1FN1JcU2_X3s/s1600-h/Busan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVXmhwK3H3JVVvCq0QT0_QgickabKQ-cI88z0sKW1Ynkpii2bm8JAJ9MpROpQMy7-PHk0A8l66wpX9xyX1vwvsLOt2poAAn80qgyH99o1CSI1-LcVQBDnBvq0ovVBlia1FN1JcU2_X3s/s400/Busan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326324634873976866" /></a><br />In late March, I finally took the opportunity to explore South Korea's second largest city, Busan, which also happens to be the world's fifth largest seaport. Located on Korea's southern coast, Busan is a popular destination for beachcombers, foreign sailors, Japanese tourists, and perhaps in 2020, Olympians. Busan is vying to play host to the 2020 Summer Olympics.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18oLDTUXAM1MlXIzRKeH4we09x30Sf0Oncgw9DUVwi7WaaA-QE-lzlsnsjdgsjiqz5H2aBFN7b18dPcLc1Uk09ganQAUac8HBuavWVWlVHxOYd5qomnwr_ilKshI940OB67JXgHHM_w0/s1600-h/Abbyhwae.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324435322002736338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18oLDTUXAM1MlXIzRKeH4we09x30Sf0Oncgw9DUVwi7WaaA-QE-lzlsnsjdgsjiqz5H2aBFN7b18dPcLc1Uk09ganQAUac8HBuavWVWlVHxOYd5qomnwr_ilKshI940OB67JXgHHM_w0/s400/Abbyhwae.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Enjoying some </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">hwae</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (sushi) on Haeundae Beach. Photo by Matt Kelley.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3Qf_UWijema1vg_mfMROuAPM6rHJ1xs2QvjQF-mZYJ2AXftuw2Rvb0YOvaFCLX_iq5k9ECtqnqtZrGsKeeQVEMGZPAXK4YENqP9GfX-5UcesXp8BhWR3IvdDoq6JhR2mXlYdVcL3xNk/s1600-h/Busan_Haeundae_Beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3Qf_UWijema1vg_mfMROuAPM6rHJ1xs2QvjQF-mZYJ2AXftuw2Rvb0YOvaFCLX_iq5k9ECtqnqtZrGsKeeQVEMGZPAXK4YENqP9GfX-5UcesXp8BhWR3IvdDoq6JhR2mXlYdVcL3xNk/s400/Busan_Haeundae_Beach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326325124040353378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A chilly Haeundae Beach</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Now that you have the same image of Busan I had before seeing it in person--seafood, sandy beaches, colorful vistas--I can't help but share my actual first impression of the city. My KTX train chugged into town after dark on a Saturday evening and, since my cronies were stuck in traffic an hour away, I spent my first two hours upon arrival perusing the vicinity of the station. I was quickly lured into "Chinatown," a neighborhood seemingly inoccuous from afar. Despite the oriental moniker, once I ventured past the red lanterns hanging around the perimeter I began to wonder if I had somehow detrained in Vladivostok. The area may be the closest thing Busan has to a Chinatown, but it's every bit as much Russian sailorville, Southeast Asian prostitiuteburg, and American GI City. I suppose it's just like me to unknowlingly head straight for the seediest part of town, and then start taking pictures.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjyz6b3SIPQAkI3CjspOR0DFtWtGlkkzqY2fRjUJ0dZIOTQHl-limjctLXRwzBGuMvyIyo8sxyJJp7RqvZWn6z6w_Edi16s2AZkqCZ_GZ3lkLblTF81_KMmKwUQzXvQmp8d0710aHKmY/s400/Chinatown_Busan_South_Korea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326315198431780834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chinatown, a.k.a. "Texas Street"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Thankfully, there's plenty to enjoy beyond Busan's mixing bowl of international vice. The ports, beaches, narrow alleyways, and cool bridges are all fun to check out on foot, but my favorite part of the trip was viewing the city from the sky. A trip up Busan Tower reveals a colorful, hilly port city oddly reminiscent of Latin America and San Francisco all at once. It sure ain't Seoul!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvyhOeCmtg4omMRMg2sedfKhrDMi1YpA9Xln2fXtIVzuwdXtzQPNI1IpCQHqxGDfV38rQpXA8bOElgKPraoAOGOqmTry2rqL8_UlfUi8-g9hkJ5gGWWuZV6EzHQlo3orSnoRjg47k0hM/s1600-h/Busan_port_South_Korea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvyhOeCmtg4omMRMg2sedfKhrDMi1YpA9Xln2fXtIVzuwdXtzQPNI1IpCQHqxGDfV38rQpXA8bOElgKPraoAOGOqmTry2rqL8_UlfUi8-g9hkJ5gGWWuZV6EzHQlo3orSnoRjg47k0hM/s400/Busan_port_South_Korea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326326320082309698" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK4M4Nd1gxRUktd502EweygXR_VolbSaGq7aflOfbA6o3zMw8PWwHwos_3G-xAvU6fQbD0G6wuVch-4IvFVAeajT-3thiD9WwDHnJe3iOc3k3WalXmueJCsVFUDKscz8rz65WHAP1yf9f/s1600-h/Busan_NW.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK4M4Nd1gxRUktd502EweygXR_VolbSaGq7aflOfbA6o3zMw8PWwHwos_3G-xAvU6fQbD0G6wuVch-4IvFVAeajT-3thiD9WwDHnJe3iOc3k3WalXmueJCsVFUDKscz8rz65WHAP1yf9f/s400/Busan_NW.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326329154878162466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>Haeundae is one of the nation's most famous beaches, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every weekend during warm-weather months. Unfortuantely for ornithophobes like me, it's also a hot spot for pigeons, seagulls, and the crazies who like to feed them. If I ever decide to overcome my fear through shock therapy, Haeundae would be a prime location to undergo treatment.<br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oxcAC5lqFISjeyzjGuYKKBpv0agiFBqD1k1QtkPMv0m6xIo31Ztl_jyWHt8fnQ5yFdV3bI2yEHm4oowV3_USzy-2VwhLgjVYeAuN9sxiMppmB-77i3jS9d-RW6tuHZukyRRV3qtOlZo/s1600-h/Haeundae_Beach_Birds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324715136154645442" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oxcAC5lqFISjeyzjGuYKKBpv0agiFBqD1k1QtkPMv0m6xIo31Ztl_jyWHt8fnQ5yFdV3bI2yEHm4oowV3_USzy-2VwhLgjVYeAuN9sxiMppmB-77i3jS9d-RW6tuHZukyRRV3qtOlZo/s400/Haeundae_Beach_Birds.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My worst nightmare on Haeundae Beach. Photo by Matt Kelley</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">For more detailed information about Busan, check out Matt Kelley's <a href="http://www.discoveringkorea.com/">Discovering Korea</a> blog.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-16695782970757603242009-03-25T13:52:00.001+09:002009-03-25T13:52:20.718+09:00Noryangjin Fish Market, Seoul<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49NhdAH-54-U2eYZc9qtkVIbWW8PRRr8Dlu6RXODjij4JiYT9r80kut6YylUPwzu34BdsfZFYFTueSD_OlFw9owClY03n1FpxXuGODVmxhyphenhyphenZI0JfyjIkulsBI23p50LhGJVDOIms0FLg/s1600-h/Noryangjin_9.jpg"></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DWjCM370HKDeEaM-W95wWJR3g-Xi2oUHiMm0Om-L0_Wiwq37Wn6ldEG99sbtTyYcySa3y4_spPkBAP4etXaJl0TMvAyICbU9dqCsQ2ohyphenhyphen9VB7X5j0DWCjxHmKZjxvuo7P9rNBak88lc/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316968726890505522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DWjCM370HKDeEaM-W95wWJR3g-Xi2oUHiMm0Om-L0_Wiwq37Wn6ldEG99sbtTyYcySa3y4_spPkBAP4etXaJl0TMvAyICbU9dqCsQ2ohyphenhyphen9VB7X5j0DWCjxHmKZjxvuo7P9rNBak88lc/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_3.JPG" border="0" /></a>Seoul's largest wholesale fish market, Noryangjin, is located on the southeastern outskirts of Yeouido amid the shadows of the imposing skyscrapers of the capital city's "Manhattan". Follow your nose to the fish market and you'll feel like you've crossed over to the proverbial other side of the tracks. Goodbye glitzy Trump building, hello dingy fish town! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQbTfueDvH5jU9SQItLt6j3huM9J0h-qWK9cQ4D-qZi9YlALAK3WV3gh7fEVIBS1HSARUVrbripe_Ugs6bQK79EGjW18yvaXtt91mscKaqKEUethyphenhyphenaGdgNRgjTFe8EiEgaIzfEQltnBY/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_2.JPG"><br /><p></a></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316925289574302578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQbTfueDvH5jU9SQItLt6j3huM9J0h-qWK9cQ4D-qZi9YlALAK3WV3gh7fEVIBS1HSARUVrbripe_Ugs6bQK79EGjW18yvaXtt91mscKaqKEUethyphenhyphenaGdgNRgjTFe8EiEgaIzfEQltnBY/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjg_ib77R9sKRAhwGxtxo_PX7Z6HgQuLdqo-2K8VGW95-27X5DV7cx759Ia9wWlGT5Dg5s4Le2VuMDTYdGK1DnZlP4MGcAZYCWsvYfwxTqqTBtarf-OXoNTQWMIwvFy_-FAuOett-3m-w/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316926231379197618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjg_ib77R9sKRAhwGxtxo_PX7Z6HgQuLdqo-2K8VGW95-27X5DV7cx759Ia9wWlGT5Dg5s4Le2VuMDTYdGK1DnZlP4MGcAZYCWsvYfwxTqqTBtarf-OXoNTQWMIwvFy_-FAuOett-3m-w/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr8_KLc3DAhwtuf9Z9cSPVHOF0J953hMalA0GG5dhzBEGGxx9yTdt5oBtqfyGr7t-2DC6qK6l7rbmazPBLvtLavtH72M2uqB5PUo896T8hPeWAq76hYtnRSjmRwpuKyEtp3z1wFNAYcY/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316924658708875186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr8_KLc3DAhwtuf9Z9cSPVHOF0J953hMalA0GG5dhzBEGGxx9yTdt5oBtqfyGr7t-2DC6qK6l7rbmazPBLvtLavtH72M2uqB5PUo896T8hPeWAq76hYtnRSjmRwpuKyEtp3z1wFNAYcY/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Since I paid my visit in the evening, I missed out on the lively, fast-paced market atmosphere. For that, I'd have to hit Noryangjin in the wee hours of the morning when vendors from 700ish individual shops bid on the day's catch. Around 7pm, the market was quieter than I had expected, with retailers surly feeling the fatigue of a long day's work and suited businesspeople looking for some after-work grub. The vinyl-aproned staff of Noryangjin's shops are obviously accustomed to the wide eyes and camera flashes of tourists, and I was surprised by how amenable most vendors were to my particuarly intrusive photo-snapping style. </div><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgftpzhRZHHILiYOBC91KHHWjc9ea-xzU71TlM2Yezf5cXmMAvDfdVKcBlE46UfsB939U3qPjtQEfNxKr36KU1FUlk0scrYj_mYzgt04g3rAXNtGT4GrsiuuVwZkkoL6qTY7edXUg5TYY/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316926764438718210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgftpzhRZHHILiYOBC91KHHWjc9ea-xzU71TlM2Yezf5cXmMAvDfdVKcBlE46UfsB939U3qPjtQEfNxKr36KU1FUlk0scrYj_mYzgt04g3rAXNtGT4GrsiuuVwZkkoL6qTY7edXUg5TYY/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_Z6WwVm3z3KfuMkciya4WZ_F3qG0SQJhfOpXcgJ844F145SRSpuGzy4HD7K1ScFixZjsiScv53LBcCCyPpA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49NhdAH-54-U2eYZc9qtkVIbWW8PRRr8Dlu6RXODjij4JiYT9r80kut6YylUPwzu34BdsfZFYFTueSD_OlFw9owClY03n1FpxXuGODVmxhyphenhyphenZI0JfyjIkulsBI23p50LhGJVDOIms0FLg/s1600-h/Noryangjin_9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316982509815492834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49NhdAH-54-U2eYZc9qtkVIbWW8PRRr8Dlu6RXODjij4JiYT9r80kut6YylUPwzu34BdsfZFYFTueSD_OlFw9owClY03n1FpxXuGODVmxhyphenhyphenZI0JfyjIkulsBI23p50LhGJVDOIms0FLg/s400/Noryangjin_9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The wide array of sea life was a bit overwhelming for a novice, and coming from a country where consumers are largely removed from the process of how a creature becomes cuisine, it felt a little strange selecting a live fish to be killed, sliced, and served on the spot. Thankfully, my KBS cohorts were experienced shoppers and hagglers. </p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw4fMgUP-KJlZEmV2XAhsm2xZK2_OBxFCoRDFPOVExsFAdkBEt6ZQqdJklzxgj8a1GqODPELZ3M33MCZkQdfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzmOWkw9_lPFvErlFSgvg8ekACVWAEJjGPl3Cetrg-qHruE12dwNwefGK9x6A3HThiMu-l-Gn2tr2vteMePPQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLu4-J6tQXhH92VnzdiPB4FcWExnixBN3lXlGB5vrsDxHPzK4ouHMo7ZOCww1BJLnDEOvBFaVjpZwDyCbhRxFVlgh52EaDQjv3-rQtB4UCGDCQ0khLwcn5LzJAvMTLMFP3CTmw3l-AgE/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316926950817247698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLu4-J6tQXhH92VnzdiPB4FcWExnixBN3lXlGB5vrsDxHPzK4ouHMo7ZOCww1BJLnDEOvBFaVjpZwDyCbhRxFVlgh52EaDQjv3-rQtB4UCGDCQ0khLwcn5LzJAvMTLMFP3CTmw3l-AgE/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_8.JPG" border="0" /></a>After bargaining for whatever fits your fancy, market employees quickly and deftly turn live swimmers into sashimi. Then they neatly arrange the fish on sturdy paper plates, complete with little oniony garnishes. The remaining carcass is bagged up and saved for a reappearance in tasty soup. Save room for the eyeballs!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgftpzhRZHHILiYOBC91KHHWjc9ea-xzU71TlM2Yezf5cXmMAvDfdVKcBlE46UfsB939U3qPjtQEfNxKr36KU1FUlk0scrYj_mYzgt04g3rAXNtGT4GrsiuuVwZkkoL6qTY7edXUg5TYY/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_7.JPG"></a>One of Noryangjin's greatest features is its adjacent restaurants where you can round out your experience, and your belly, by digging right into your purchase. All the necessary accouterments (soy sauce, wasabi, lettuce, kimchi) are on hand, and restaurant staff begins cooking your fish remnant soup while you get started on the raw fish. It's not fancy, but it was fresh and very economical. My group of six paid about $20 each for as much sashimi, fish soup, seafood pancake (해물파전), and soju we could handle. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_g1zwxm2XF0HkqG_HiTjYOPUnDhMx3CrUDm6V2-UQg2EM-ECKv8Ncz07_XiyFGwVYszxG_pJcJsIY7tsZzqGqmsAi0ZtwzHS012JFQj0Q-EuN_XLJTd696sexPTpSVoKrgQgkbOnfJQ/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316926546057442914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_g1zwxm2XF0HkqG_HiTjYOPUnDhMx3CrUDm6V2-UQg2EM-ECKv8Ncz07_XiyFGwVYszxG_pJcJsIY7tsZzqGqmsAi0ZtwzHS012JFQj0Q-EuN_XLJTd696sexPTpSVoKrgQgkbOnfJQ/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSfSelcI1vaQfK0dJ6BlomXG5LGpB91ILiyA5qJ50QebfzVoZPMCb0iYozmzrwuiLUHoa13TGuanwCCf2eZvXAJUG-t2S_0U7nnZ9DOTnGiZKSxe1GYg9arMGQMqWBz9vCFkkByI7xS8/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316926394638068546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSfSelcI1vaQfK0dJ6BlomXG5LGpB91ILiyA5qJ50QebfzVoZPMCb0iYozmzrwuiLUHoa13TGuanwCCf2eZvXAJUG-t2S_0U7nnZ9DOTnGiZKSxe1GYg9arMGQMqWBz9vCFkkByI7xS8/s400/Noryangjin_Seoul_5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr8_KLc3DAhwtuf9Z9cSPVHOF0J953hMalA0GG5dhzBEGGxx9yTdt5oBtqfyGr7t-2DC6qK6l7rbmazPBLvtLavtH72M2uqB5PUo896T8hPeWAq76hYtnRSjmRwpuKyEtp3z1wFNAYcY/s1600-h/Noryangjin_Seoul_1.JPG"></a><br /><br /></p>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-78090642745572950372009-03-01T20:17:00.001+09:002009-03-01T20:17:52.686+09:00Media is the new U.S. beef<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillvht4bsbjpZrVRf48oWzDDs7r3NPkUAyNgfYTZ3KsmG8u-_1mdTNMrmMtH328pwbcADNlnR5aSysjzxOPh2WDV9aX_kUzdHV7ej0hkFvJjydzjmK0MGNSIwIIYqFOsOPz0fVbYxb2rE/s1600-h/Yeouido_media_protest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillvht4bsbjpZrVRf48oWzDDs7r3NPkUAyNgfYTZ3KsmG8u-_1mdTNMrmMtH328pwbcADNlnR5aSysjzxOPh2WDV9aX_kUzdHV7ej0hkFvJjydzjmK0MGNSIwIIYqFOsOPz0fVbYxb2rE/s400/Yeouido_media_protest.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308174764603706434" /></a><br /><div>About ten years ago the government turned Yeouido asphalt slab into Yeouido Park. By the time I arrived in Seoul, it had become a lovely, verdant spot redolent of cherry blossoms in the springtime and the far less appealing beondegi (silk worm larvae) whenever food vendors set up to serve the passersby. I've heard the impetus for cultivating the park was the government's hope to squelch mass demonstrations by civic groups that had become frequent occurrences on Yeouido asphalt slab. <div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB0AHE25LsjAY9wms8IpyVTaRX_eGloRXBpFhfVixkmEHRvaExoYEUb0NqmZY9vvDTmmN0Vp_5_HRrcDNDLBR4e1DG3ML6NEeRWoMFcTymHoGFAJ2eHiKQfukJrC0toc_xtos6maFG_c/s1600-h/Yeoudo_protest_Seoul.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB0AHE25LsjAY9wms8IpyVTaRX_eGloRXBpFhfVixkmEHRvaExoYEUb0NqmZY9vvDTmmN0Vp_5_HRrcDNDLBR4e1DG3ML6NEeRWoMFcTymHoGFAJ2eHiKQfukJrC0toc_xtos6maFG_c/s400/Yeoudo_protest_Seoul.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308174610789604578" /></a></div></div>If that were truly the goal, however, perhaps they shouldn't have left a sizable amount of asphalt in the middle. Most days just bikers, rollerbladers, and basketball players occupy the space, but anytime the country becomes ripe with government distaste (which seems to occur frequently), the park revisits its past. The hot button issue of the month is a set of controversial media reform bills, which include the government and ruling party's plan to privatize the broadcasting sector (something I might even be convinced to fight against if protesting were my thing--instead, I just take pictures). Home to the nation's three top broadcasters and the parliament building, Yeouido was the perfect spot for unionists and other activists to gather Saturday afternoon for a good old fashioned protest. At least it's not about U.S. beef this time!<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyU7ckqU5XM27KG_qTIDhWArCb1LIpRlYkMrpw6uuvdClCcJn_WXA7eI8biEiNh80BGyruPfiCvrSzqTta0Yg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-25573637960839285422009-02-15T18:52:00.001+09:002009-02-15T18:54:09.425+09:00Happy Valentine's Day!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zn-47E8V08EKGQtpCDZOBqrQ7gp_OkXz0fcPwP1-0QeIqVBLE9xBtDW-oaJw_8mq8fwDdDOedLAj7w13AYCBSiz5jg5VYNXHLpElNdIkQw6Z4hi836-QFBlSKIVmg0647l9_fnZI2SM/s1600-h/Rainy_Valentine_Seoul.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zn-47E8V08EKGQtpCDZOBqrQ7gp_OkXz0fcPwP1-0QeIqVBLE9xBtDW-oaJw_8mq8fwDdDOedLAj7w13AYCBSiz5jg5VYNXHLpElNdIkQw6Z4hi836-QFBlSKIVmg0647l9_fnZI2SM/s400/Rainy_Valentine_Seoul.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302871393264646610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">An orphan Valentine card collects rain drops Friday. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The 14th day of the month is almost always some kind of occasion in Korea. Yesterday was Valentine's Day, of course, a holiday which is gaining popularity by both lovers and businesses each year, but it's just one in a string of "Days" that call upon one subgroup or another to celebrate, bestow, mourn, eat, or get drunk whilst walking in the woods. For instance, the month of October utilizes a homonym for its 14th. Koreans give apples (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">sagwa</span>) to apologize (also <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">sagwa</span>) for past infractions. Here are some shots taken around Seoul on Friday and Saturday.<br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVvGfKgC2Xf0n6YKeW5ozvNZ1U4G3YUMXn5YKIjo2KWKOlCStp7QbacCZVZnKwKoopSTuOAufY3AurfcuwwQWFKx7NbnxfxFMEh597Yv_zPVp18IDfOOD99uZLUlunwJFNy6ktHa7fTY/s1600-h/Valentine_Seoul_subway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVvGfKgC2Xf0n6YKeW5ozvNZ1U4G3YUMXn5YKIjo2KWKOlCStp7QbacCZVZnKwKoopSTuOAufY3AurfcuwwQWFKx7NbnxfxFMEh597Yv_zPVp18IDfOOD99uZLUlunwJFNy6ktHa7fTY/s400/Valentine_Seoul_subway.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302635059436092146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Saturday morning subway traffic was sparse, but I did notice a few passengers laden with gifts, cakes, and flowers.</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcGAWBUwCVEw0XPgig9jvnDiNaFje3TaCF2wuJtJTfkqmqi-59jQ0xDyV6aHDpwKSEyoVXzEw_FG6YygcURQ_uTxW367GchmVVblcen1DVll2ptkdOjEBUnI7tHNjusRUIwKpNfVsj7U/s1600-h/Valentine_Seoul_couple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcGAWBUwCVEw0XPgig9jvnDiNaFje3TaCF2wuJtJTfkqmqi-59jQ0xDyV6aHDpwKSEyoVXzEw_FG6YygcURQ_uTxW367GchmVVblcen1DVll2ptkdOjEBUnI7tHNjusRUIwKpNfVsj7U/s400/Valentine_Seoul_couple.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302634670790600290" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Despite what I thought was charming coaxing on my part to get Ms. Flowers to remove her hand from her mouth, she didn't oblige. Maybe she had chocolate on her teeth. Nonetheless, she and her beau seemed to be having a delightful Valentine's Day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPbLnPmENJTQAOWWNb4fbt-PYaQGRsSzMaVucafnDCopsjAnNDK-b_dVDVYrhhRQIw2G-AbbXB_vexFgm8ppdfTgdjvDY_pb74s1pKPLTlG1goKzSxzCY3QpW3YI6fl6hTzVAmDu1Avc/s1600-h/Valentine_Seoul_GS25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPbLnPmENJTQAOWWNb4fbt-PYaQGRsSzMaVucafnDCopsjAnNDK-b_dVDVYrhhRQIw2G-AbbXB_vexFgm8ppdfTgdjvDY_pb74s1pKPLTlG1goKzSxzCY3QpW3YI6fl6hTzVAmDu1Avc/s400/Valentine_Seoul_GS25.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302633916442647218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Korea's commercial sector has fully embraced the Western holiday.</span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSYgEQdEJmGOaMY8Oqj-b3nrQVD-J3RFOqNWOi3-PUVuIUgHDp9SYbdHWoASpBl75dDoJBSOyhZASy-BMKqYzZfEt07j4LmVHq_VF5krRwtci3-MwDd-wuh_yk7ZL5yCMgNmd_ODesB4/s1600-h/Valentine_gifts_Seoul.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSYgEQdEJmGOaMY8Oqj-b3nrQVD-J3RFOqNWOi3-PUVuIUgHDp9SYbdHWoASpBl75dDoJBSOyhZASy-BMKqYzZfEt07j4LmVHq_VF5krRwtci3-MwDd-wuh_yk7ZL5yCMgNmd_ODesB4/s400/Valentine_gifts_Seoul.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302632573190713394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Convenience store employees braved Saturday evening's cold temperatures to peddle V-Day goodies near subways and bus stops.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Valentine’s Day in Korea favors dudes, since it’s widely accepted as an occasion for women to profess their affection for the men in their lives through chocolates, cakes that look too cute to cut, and any number of other well-marketed goodies that spoony lovers can’t resist. For more about Korea’s unique Valentine’s Day customs, see <a href="http://hurricaneabbyhitsseoul.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentines-day-korea.html">last year’s post</a>.<br /></div></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-15671723202291112902009-02-04T17:37:00.009+09:002009-02-04T17:56:48.366+09:00Saengil Chukhahaeyo, Sue!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PrxJdGLRCjcLbhAl96gSUbI3LIIdNKkai9YKLlqtzyG0J-9KgzZ0AHsOju5BncbGfbhjbtITfyPNHezjS0Mgut39UB40-5AjMLShgqERQdS8-XDIrN0eIBi_KVqmJY0gDDAgWHCOPAFl/s1600-h/Sue_birthday_ice_bar_seoul.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PrxJdGLRCjcLbhAl96gSUbI3LIIdNKkai9YKLlqtzyG0J-9KgzZ0AHsOju5BncbGfbhjbtITfyPNHezjS0Mgut39UB40-5AjMLShgqERQdS8-XDIrN0eIBi_KVqmJY0gDDAgWHCOPAFl/s400/Sue_birthday_ice_bar_seoul.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298860147558403218" /></a>If you've tuned into KBS World Radio-English in the last ten years, you've likely heard the sweet voice or skilled translations of Sue Park. Sue has a hand in almost all of our English programming and is certainly a listener favorite. She's a busy gal, but she took the time, and braved subarctic temperatures, to celebrate her birthday with the KBS crew last weekend. Here are some photos from the event held at "Ice Bar" in the Hongdae neighborhood of Seoul. Happy birthday, Sue!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL1pc8Vf9syoUn9tJftVGybtqZCMJp0iqMflHEj7bRFCDpf_wwwyYz6d7z-GGs31i6VBOuw6Eq5UE63aIDupnVqXk0zkpuQ6q9CN92gtEQ82MBYLGkEkE8jg-HfYO1HvaP55IbQxZ295a/s1600-h/Luke_Sue_ice_bar_seoul.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL1pc8Vf9syoUn9tJftVGybtqZCMJp0iqMflHEj7bRFCDpf_wwwyYz6d7z-GGs31i6VBOuw6Eq5UE63aIDupnVqXk0zkpuQ6q9CN92gtEQ82MBYLGkEkE8jg-HfYO1HvaP55IbQxZ295a/s400/Luke_Sue_ice_bar_seoul.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298860278117627826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sue and Luke Micono smile through chattering teeth!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtSIHjXTZtXkjhFeJ5Qeo9e959dw92zxrmaecPpbwJJOCw7vi0ScfnCP13dJ7A-FPWkrsB5fDrd34bfS2YiZ1RwRpZdt4p-9Oh8HwXHgXhOTwHiVvT6ISPAvyyf8f5YFxpffB0lyMpwxU/s1600-h/Ice_Bar_Seoul_inside.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtSIHjXTZtXkjhFeJ5Qeo9e959dw92zxrmaecPpbwJJOCw7vi0ScfnCP13dJ7A-FPWkrsB5fDrd34bfS2YiZ1RwRpZdt4p-9Oh8HwXHgXhOTwHiVvT6ISPAvyyf8f5YFxpffB0lyMpwxU/s400/Ice_Bar_Seoul_inside.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298859972154068578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Can you spot the KBSers? Sarah Jun, Chris Dykas, Jackson Kim, yours truly, Seoung-soo Kim, and Sara Kim are among the bu</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nch.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_MQLNCLgu1g0HY0ypzCL5yDt9E4BS6traFUGkbeBPiUbGE5mUz9lfDz0OkiNFyxuUTO0ucS8BOPDR9VfuKI8-kAnQRpkPJ2piHdqbWGSG0IvtepkTP0fbTmt7mpqG-nal9I0UooqgiMO/s1600-h/Ice_Bar_Seoul_SaraandSue.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_MQLNCLgu1g0HY0ypzCL5yDt9E4BS6traFUGkbeBPiUbGE5mUz9lfDz0OkiNFyxuUTO0ucS8BOPDR9VfuKI8-kAnQRpkPJ2piHdqbWGSG0IvtepkTP0fbTmt7mpqG-nal9I0UooqgiMO/s400/Ice_Bar_Seoul_SaraandSue.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298862539071917826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What's an ice bar without ice glasses?</span> </div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-6583164916749027522009-02-04T14:13:00.009+09:002009-02-04T14:41:37.881+09:00Snow daysHere are some belated photos I took during and after a spattering of snow over the Lunar New Year holiday. As I mentioned last week, Seoul has seen warmer temperatures in the first couple weeks of the (lunar) new year, so these may be the last shots of the white stuff for awhile.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbeX0DPBuwa3mTWWV303XuAikaDQBjvorxgmh9uNlqnFMmkh3RP-jQJ3S9JXDEkl-4Q0dtu7XMTLlltRLOiOiFVuPcOOckIO2wbm4Wpn4Ie209TGiPU633lABMhDs-5N-YiKUL3e8aTHJ/s1600-h/Seoul_snow_umbrellas.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbeX0DPBuwa3mTWWV303XuAikaDQBjvorxgmh9uNlqnFMmkh3RP-jQJ3S9JXDEkl-4Q0dtu7XMTLlltRLOiOiFVuPcOOckIO2wbm4Wpn4Ie209TGiPU633lABMhDs-5N-YiKUL3e8aTHJ/s400/Seoul_snow_umbrellas.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298807618761272194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Braving the snow for a shopping trip through Seoul's Edae neighborhood, home of Ewha Womans University. I'm not sure if using umbrellas during a snowfall is unique to Korea (maybe my international readers can help me here), but I've never witnessed it in other countries. Makes sense, though! </span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejI1NgDqAY5jIVQ1ma8KvpIWon-AMtZddP0dIRIhIxQAjfRQ669kQklhw9KolnrhW26_ZXaC973mEQpos631BFMWWDWqrOgwCo0L7R5lbQbkpQFzX2lhBAaZWl3hE52RM-lCZlapUmXdT/s1600-h/Cheonggyecheon_couple.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejI1NgDqAY5jIVQ1ma8KvpIWon-AMtZddP0dIRIhIxQAjfRQ669kQklhw9KolnrhW26_ZXaC973mEQpos631BFMWWDWqrOgwCo0L7R5lbQbkpQFzX2lhBAaZWl3hE52RM-lCZlapUmXdT/s400/Cheonggyecheon_couple.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298808510444568114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> romantic, and icy cold, walk along the Cheonggye Stream that runs through downtown Seoul. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnv85EEMAexcvUxDYJ65-VPaVPt4p3sGEdI3a9lMewNCrzsIcNfll_CUFRMNU1P_g6m1AFuJv8APP8oZRmkZoILznVrSjDk0NEUomd0iRP4OeYZKJ3rf5CXKGJUygBJafLBbt4MIfO4FvG/s1600-h/Seoul_snow_edae.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnv85EEMAexcvUxDYJ65-VPaVPt4p3sGEdI3a9lMewNCrzsIcNfll_CUFRMNU1P_g6m1AFuJv8APP8oZRmkZoILznVrSjDk0NEUomd0iRP4OeYZKJ3rf5CXKGJUygBJafLBbt4MIfO4FvG/s400/Seoul_snow_edae.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298810768316941202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Interesting advertising strategy outside an Edae shop, but I didn't notice any takers during the five or ten minutes I spent observing the peculiar scene. </span> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEy4KSRG6rXibwjCeqFZsuK8ocGhBGDJiCiPSDijAYNrwzISE-gdT07eBoLm6EW70JC0MwI1v9qP2Q6CKSJfmf8dKXTfh88Xu0PKoe-FSw-eFPy2ZhJBMzQPsaoJBaGo6kjy4ZNKyjKUT/s1600-h/Seoul_snow.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEy4KSRG6rXibwjCeqFZsuK8ocGhBGDJiCiPSDijAYNrwzISE-gdT07eBoLm6EW70JC0MwI1v9qP2Q6CKSJfmf8dKXTfh88Xu0PKoe-FSw-eFPy2ZhJBMzQPsaoJBaGo6kjy4ZNKyjKUT/s400/Seoul_snow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298811559109070962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No takers for the "Fresh Fruit Candy", either, but you have to applaud the tenacity of the vendor.</span></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-29146240161605109222009-01-30T15:14:00.004+09:002009-01-30T15:37:56.427+09:00Has spring sprung?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuGyfUX8uE0TeEJnpqba_vgzGrVYmtpFV0Cpv5wFNRUTQno8vNmXC9ua7aFIaoHNTZ6odVOgUIRgzQxv2EST_XtBi-mFVmshr6Q4TVNFXSKXJQcI38I1pv6COXurM9F8yWotsK9dWNwSX/s1600-h/IMG_6558.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97FT85BoPRtrEyfwsORdFqeE4pvckUMtsUpuYCBmXcBREL8Vg3d3MSQkYymGHIuhgp0NajNX9BrbMuvuHjwyjgobrK26wGFT5on3vT6U5ISIDTMOn6u070l7Re-sV3C9NacFfRNLpBHgO/s1600-h/IMG_6557.jpg"></a>Probably not, but the balmy temps and sunny skies over Seoul today have me daydreaming about shedding the winter coat and pulling on the short pants. At 12 degrees Celcius (about 54F), it's hard to believe the city was covered in snow just a few days ago (I'll post some snow pics this weekend). I joined some colleagues from the English news department for a lunchtime jaunt around Yeouido and noticed many people out enjoying the break in wintry weather. I've been told it's typical for Korea to experience a string of three cold days followed by four warm days throughout the winter. It's called <em>sam han sa on</em> (삼한 사온), literally, "three cold, four hot".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97FT85BoPRtrEyfwsORdFqeE4pvckUMtsUpuYCBmXcBREL8Vg3d3MSQkYymGHIuhgp0NajNX9BrbMuvuHjwyjgobrK26wGFT5on3vT6U5ISIDTMOn6u070l7Re-sV3C9NacFfRNLpBHgO/s1600-h/IMG_6557.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296968764698004306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97FT85BoPRtrEyfwsORdFqeE4pvckUMtsUpuYCBmXcBREL8Vg3d3MSQkYymGHIuhgp0NajNX9BrbMuvuHjwyjgobrK26wGFT5on3vT6U5ISIDTMOn6u070l7Re-sV3C9NacFfRNLpBHgO/s400/IMG_6557.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuGyfUX8uE0TeEJnpqba_vgzGrVYmtpFV0Cpv5wFNRUTQno8vNmXC9ua7aFIaoHNTZ6odVOgUIRgzQxv2EST_XtBi-mFVmshr6Q4TVNFXSKXJQcI38I1pv6COXurM9F8yWotsK9dWNwSX/s1600-h/IMG_6558.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296969889922914514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuGyfUX8uE0TeEJnpqba_vgzGrVYmtpFV0Cpv5wFNRUTQno8vNmXC9ua7aFIaoHNTZ6odVOgUIRgzQxv2EST_XtBi-mFVmshr6Q4TVNFXSKXJQcI38I1pv6COXurM9F8yWotsK9dWNwSX/s400/IMG_6558.jpg" border="0" /></a>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-64781863227201601902009-01-26T20:51:00.001+09:002009-01-26T20:51:45.420+09:00Happy Lunar New Year!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYqbmB-C3zOBDelPg-nAC1un_N-sqQHd8bWcjZoLf4jGgtey-m8wRWPRv8T-8i40oDjjm7XySMc2cInkdtspXNDvxQLRw6iW054c-l0XfFHN7BPBjGeXjpQByo2TxxPLVxky_RjQ_hw4/s1600-h/Seollal_giftset_spam.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYqbmB-C3zOBDelPg-nAC1un_N-sqQHd8bWcjZoLf4jGgtey-m8wRWPRv8T-8i40oDjjm7XySMc2cInkdtspXNDvxQLRw6iW054c-l0XfFHN7BPBjGeXjpQByo2TxxPLVxky_RjQ_hw4/s400/Seollal_giftset_spam.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295564625663300706" /></a><br />When I return to work on Wednesday after a four-day vacation in the name of the Lunar New Year, my Korean colleagues will all be a year older. Never having adhered to customs associated with the moon, I'll still be 26 (not 28--Koreans are considered one year old at birth and add on one year with each birthday, as well as on the Lunar New Year). So I'm spared a year, but since I don't really celebrate Seollal I did miss out on something many across the country received as a token of love or appreciation on Korea's most widely celebrated holiday: a gift set. From the practical to the extravagant, the edible to the spreadable, almost anything can be found packaged neatly in a gift set around the Lunar New Year. A local newspaper reported that ginseng is this year's gift of choice, but multi-packs of Spam, soap, assorted nuts, cooking oil, toothbrushes, whisky, tuna cans, apples, instant coffee, and moisturizers are also in bountiful supply in supermarkets, big box stores, and even convenience stores. These economic arrangements are typical around Christmas in the U.S., but the variety pales in comparison to what Korea has to offer. I'm not sure what giving (or receiving) a two-year supply of toothpaste says, but I've certainly seen worse gifts.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWHStCD_v8zRCqPJU21XA0Nbo8S-tGn0SEQvZAzNXSledPfZi7DoXd8kESDalXDoRxNctNq-bwG-LvsZ2qvIfi0W92gfGCimCVYhPkIDCh29WmvBpFUAYGUF68ZzbmfwnvR2_UoHMVYI/s1600-h/Seollal_giftset_mushrooms.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWHStCD_v8zRCqPJU21XA0Nbo8S-tGn0SEQvZAzNXSledPfZi7DoXd8kESDalXDoRxNctNq-bwG-LvsZ2qvIfi0W92gfGCimCVYhPkIDCh29WmvBpFUAYGUF68ZzbmfwnvR2_UoHMVYI/s400/Seollal_giftset_mushrooms.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295564982564869122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mushrooms and the like ranging from about $40 up to $100</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZCjT69aB55O0B3SMuwCqsXe_WZnC4VxoOfpli9vRK_9F798MvS_g8lpeMTrMFLodPNgHFa08ApOOvee3RV4x9MoOAWsvBAaWTKrzfKYL8FYmQ88EczzK4mcWbbmlTdAz7Sw6v7czQC0/s1600-h/Seollal_giftset_hanbok.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZCjT69aB55O0B3SMuwCqsXe_WZnC4VxoOfpli9vRK_9F798MvS_g8lpeMTrMFLodPNgHFa08ApOOvee3RV4x9MoOAWsvBAaWTKrzfKYL8FYmQ88EczzK4mcWbbmlTdAz7Sw6v7czQC0/s400/Seollal_giftset_hanbok.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295565106983376466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">E-Mart employees were decked out in traditional hanbok a day before Seollal and eagerly peddling gift sets.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YdpxTbAeU49GdBxmBT4M2tqhMwjIsc9wwVOpUZHk_T5BtZB_Miu4k45sXinO0tcLifQaM5yAcv8hXOAypmg2hGsa05DG89q-y0V9hBL7jvXwRH6qi-XaS9gP7rDgGbOb8b0bVZ04qfA/s1600-h/Seollal_giftset_apples.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YdpxTbAeU49GdBxmBT4M2tqhMwjIsc9wwVOpUZHk_T5BtZB_Miu4k45sXinO0tcLifQaM5yAcv8hXOAypmg2hGsa05DG89q-y0V9hBL7jvXwRH6qi-XaS9gP7rDgGbOb8b0bVZ04qfA/s400/Seollal_giftset_apples.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295566747519368018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Those oughtta be some tasty apples! 12 for ~$45</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-87611521246799863602009-01-14T10:24:00.002+09:002009-01-14T13:40:05.835+09:00To bidet, or not to bidet<em>*** Originally posted to personal blog on Nov. 30, 2007</em><br /><em></em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzw9sHt2ygblTpf7ym65m_ZpBEChlxj8WUID-TPQXwWJ5gQ6N-g8o7mxTYdcNXwCSGaBg_w998B_r477IXFocuhtAbtat1W59nuIQdJY5JJER9LxF3B7PL2qmIBfeJBX9m5h4bR3MLF4/s1600-h/Bidet.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128943548472961330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzw9sHt2ygblTpf7ym65m_ZpBEChlxj8WUID-TPQXwWJ5gQ6N-g8o7mxTYdcNXwCSGaBg_w998B_r477IXFocuhtAbtat1W59nuIQdJY5JJER9LxF3B7PL2qmIBfeJBX9m5h4bR3MLF4/s320/Bidet.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is a question I've asked myself quite a few times since arriving in Seoul, particularly since I actually have a bidet in my apartment. I'm not sure I ever had the opportunity to use a bidet before visiting Japan and Korea--they seemed like something only "rich" people had and I always felt a little awkward even talking about them. Nonetheless, I had seen bidets in the U.S., usually an entity completely separate from the toilet, no lid, faucet-type thing mounted on the back.<br /><br />All the bidets I've seen in Korea are actually built into the toilet and most modern models are electronically controlled. The one in my apartment, seen here, is a modern type with multiple functions, including a separate setting for women (I call it the "chick" button), a dryer, and even a seat-warmer. It seems most functions have varying degrees of intensity, but my Korean isn't good enough yet to understand what any of it means. If there isn't a picture of a butt with water hitting it, I'm out of luck.<br /><br />The day I moved into my apartment, I recall standing in the doorway of my bathroom just kind of looking at my toilet, skeptically sizing up this apparatus with colorful buttons and flashing lights. It was almost like having another person in the apartment! I wasn't sure what to think about it and I was certainly apprehensive about pushing the buttons. Usually, I feel the need to touch just about everything around me, but this was different. I was intimidated by a household appliance! I mean, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">where</span> exactly is that water coming from? That was my first question.<br /><br />Sometime during my first week in Korea, Sophia told me a maintenance man would be coming to my apartment to fix my bidet. "Fix it?!" I said. I had no idea anything was wrong with it . . . and I was sure as hell happy I hadn't tried it out yet. So, that evening I experienced a priceless exchange of hand gestures with an middle-aged Korean man who was determined to restore my bidet to full function. Not only that, but he was was also adamant I understand what would be accomplished by pressing each button. Now, just imagine . . . this man spoke no English. My Korean repertoire at the time was limited to greetings and thank-yous. This means we engaged in a surly comical charades-like "conversation" about a rather personal hygienic device. Basically, this meant him pointing repeatedly to my nether regions, both back and front, accompanied by ambiguous hand motions and a few sound effects thrown in here and there.<br /><br />All this only increased my apprehension about my bidet, so I unplugged the thing and until recently have been using the spare electrical outlet for my curling iron (a much less intimidating device). This weekend, however, I vowed to conquer my fear. What's the worst that could happen, right? Sparing you unsavory detail, I'll say everything went off without incident. And with the fall days in Seoul growing cooler and cooler, that seat warmer is really growing on me!Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-2791677266224179002009-01-06T13:31:00.004+09:002009-01-06T13:49:07.877+09:00Back to Seoul, time to diet!Two weeks and undoubtedly two-to-three kilos later, I'm back in Seoul after a trip home to the U.S. for the holidays. Another whirlwind trip that included stops in Chicago, central Illinois, North Carolina, and airport drop-ins in Detroit and Atlanta, was in fact a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of Seoul life. Reuniting with friends and family was a pleasure, but my most salient memories all seem to include food! Here's a picture of my plate during the Rhodes Family Christmas celebration. Mmm! Of course, after two weeks of burgers, pizza, casseroles, and pie, I was pretty anxious to get my hands on some kipbap.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oJpN5JMdyXG7yOhaAflX1EfOMuV7bJ-q1B7zm994s85Xz3jdVSpYe921gZ-K-0mzhOYzUNRzJazxdS3qYTr22PfbJE8J-vH9x-i7fX10xh2zjH-q1Whso3esl1gdnUaw8iXVgZutubpW/s1600-h/IMG_6366.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288036065044265026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oJpN5JMdyXG7yOhaAflX1EfOMuV7bJ-q1B7zm994s85Xz3jdVSpYe921gZ-K-0mzhOYzUNRzJazxdS3qYTr22PfbJE8J-vH9x-i7fX10xh2zjH-q1Whso3esl1gdnUaw8iXVgZutubpW/s400/IMG_6366.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On my way back to Seoul, I was reminded of just how small the world can be as I checked into a small, regional airport in Peoria, Illinois. The gentleman at the airline ticket counter noticed my destination was Incheon and asked why I was headed to Korea. Turns out, he is one of our listeners! He later posted a comment here on my blog, which came as a pleasant surprise when I booted up my e-mail back in Seoul. It's always great to hear from our listeners, but running into one back in small town America was a particularly nice way to be reminded that KBS really does reach all corners of the earth.Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-28301074755044007092008-12-14T12:03:00.009+09:002008-12-14T12:31:46.507+09:00Andong Mask Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DinYymB3ClLzKb7B2i5_2YpTPzUd_a1anh2mMY2TkjF5_BdqwVdtHNZs6oPQETbyjAFDXgAqpFH9FiDiMzOnm1qA1KhsGFPqr39c32lON9Mp0BndTKzztSIZn8yqHjfOIb1M-xi5ow4A/s1600-h/Andong_mask_festival.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DinYymB3ClLzKb7B2i5_2YpTPzUd_a1anh2mMY2TkjF5_BdqwVdtHNZs6oPQETbyjAFDXgAqpFH9FiDiMzOnm1qA1KhsGFPqr39c32lON9Mp0BndTKzztSIZn8yqHjfOIb1M-xi5ow4A/s400/Andong_mask_festival.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279482019852508754" border="0" /></a>Here's a belated report from an early October trip to Andong, Gyeongsang Province, a few hours southeast of Seoul. The area is famous for traditional Korean cuisine eaten to honor ancestors (heotjesabap, similar to bibimbap), an old Confucian academy, and Andong's annual mask festival. Matt Kelley and I joined throngs of festival goers on an uncharacteristically hot October weekend. Here are some photos from the festival. For more information about North Gyeongsang Province, visit Matt's "Discovering Korea" <a href="http://discoveringkorea.wordpress.com/category/regional/n-gyeongsang-province/">website</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1NiKk7wzPhW3MUBHURxfxCzGxAZn7SEg9EiRd-DcwUE9y6J8fPnJMn7OdGJMtBjpLGnhHcIOrbWix2_4qOYKrSFpC9SlAgu3PQJWPNc9WvOL5v7fdms_wPmjt7r1EDiYMws2XaodjA2K/s1600-h/AbMatt.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1NiKk7wzPhW3MUBHURxfxCzGxAZn7SEg9EiRd-DcwUE9y6J8fPnJMn7OdGJMtBjpLGnhHcIOrbWix2_4qOYKrSFpC9SlAgu3PQJWPNc9WvOL5v7fdms_wPmjt7r1EDiYMws2XaodjA2K/s400/AbMatt.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279478601502289858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimO_BhI6RqEG84Wdt4qOjQQPqQZ2hRhVLh1YpqYJgfJ75NLiIj84U47Z0Z5cxzuSRGX60gAxPbSzw0n_3AOe19j9uA4DskGIbONsCuwOqg9IQK-xReJPbT22RxdFJYWML-hLJkNzajuagC/s1600-h/Andong_mask_festival_3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimO_BhI6RqEG84Wdt4qOjQQPqQZ2hRhVLh1YpqYJgfJ75NLiIj84U47Z0Z5cxzuSRGX60gAxPbSzw0n_3AOe19j9uA4DskGIbONsCuwOqg9IQK-xReJPbT22RxdFJYWML-hLJkNzajuagC/s400/Andong_mask_festival_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279480633659039138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio91lQBNAFD7mnOHN7_FYRL3REXMNKEzIFx5shKP3owlBmiwOqiJdKHdQ54MeEa33v05tTTMpTJY8vyOOrGSSNFEugeUEhs-NPdh0siDA9pE0GpQUothVQ1CSn-VBM1ESRN1MtpbiNRAS/s1600-h/Andong_mask_festival_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio91lQBNAFD7mnOHN7_FYRL3REXMNKEzIFx5shKP3owlBmiwOqiJdKHdQ54MeEa33v05tTTMpTJY8vyOOrGSSNFEugeUEhs-NPdh0siDA9pE0GpQUothVQ1CSn-VBM1ESRN1MtpbiNRAS/s400/Andong_mask_festival_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279480364076942898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN0bL-P8iobyr4j92VpyOmKdQQGQCri8601CaewLbtjdlrlt3P98SFmdWZ6ThO8vJ9viHTeCGl8t-95sXWN75htZ-mHD6Sl5J9f6F1uohUlJIOLBs9aMVed1NtoSHIGNc3h3sK3vUruxP/s1600-h/Andong_mask_festival_4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN0bL-P8iobyr4j92VpyOmKdQQGQCri8601CaewLbtjdlrlt3P98SFmdWZ6ThO8vJ9viHTeCGl8t-95sXWN75htZ-mHD6Sl5J9f6F1uohUlJIOLBs9aMVed1NtoSHIGNc3h3sK3vUruxP/s400/Andong_mask_festival_4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279480889901487650" border="0" /></a>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-59317605726045779352008-12-10T17:20:00.012+09:002008-12-10T17:49:17.312+09:00Seoul, city of SOCKS!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PhDCXMgBKcrcDqkTt8cz0nahVgWsmBjqMhFsTpkV86PYnPcf455DCEYrpQnEeh1hqM6YnXkH546sBbEThx9rmBXFTF6QSZ81HcRtnQ3C-1MEVSw0iiZQKK7nblYS-7SwLHVV-ky_Mnzx/s1600-h/Seoul_socks_3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PhDCXMgBKcrcDqkTt8cz0nahVgWsmBjqMhFsTpkV86PYnPcf455DCEYrpQnEeh1hqM6YnXkH546sBbEThx9rmBXFTF6QSZ81HcRtnQ3C-1MEVSw0iiZQKK7nblYS-7SwLHVV-ky_Mnzx/s400/Seoul_socks_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278076388955367586" border="0" /></a>Can't decide what to buy your friends and fam for Christmas? I suggest socks! And Seoul has plenty of 'em. One can't help but notice the prevalence of sock vendors around the city; in the subways, along the sidewalks, and one after another in any shopping area. They range from the practical to the downright wacky. They're long, short, plain, colorful, and some even get political. Korean heartthrobs grace the cotton of some varities, along with old standbys Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Hello Kitty. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and "Coach" socks go for just two or three dollars a pair on the streets of Itaewon. In fact, they're as afforable as their less illustrious counterparts. So, this holiday season, stuff the stockings with . . . stockings!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIN_y19iKRHlWjDRN3ahP-ZTSGGIng0caBMcMEFhllNYD7GbBTCom41vdSPG9JuBz0n1wIJK-1kNWruWP5Cyx6k2hWrpHDoqNEEW4_SVhivryTjGZnHKr28W_TnGE0sYCjNoUf-YNdHuEo/s1600-h/Seoul_socks_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIN_y19iKRHlWjDRN3ahP-ZTSGGIng0caBMcMEFhllNYD7GbBTCom41vdSPG9JuBz0n1wIJK-1kNWruWP5Cyx6k2hWrpHDoqNEEW4_SVhivryTjGZnHKr28W_TnGE0sYCjNoUf-YNdHuEo/s400/Seoul_socks_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278076159688681506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGR7dU-mEIQ3Z-izWgQqVlqusxo9jyCdX8NTsSj4XvWmY72RKG5S7N0IhXREk1hQYoseOUXMJjYDAW4CSfteTepxgV4-dhavFUc_09tR8WK5VMlCQlbLwTqcGySPVsQipa3zSYT7i0MuC/s1600-h/Seoul_stockings.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGR7dU-mEIQ3Z-izWgQqVlqusxo9jyCdX8NTsSj4XvWmY72RKG5S7N0IhXREk1hQYoseOUXMJjYDAW4CSfteTepxgV4-dhavFUc_09tR8WK5VMlCQlbLwTqcGySPVsQipa3zSYT7i0MuC/s400/Seoul_stockings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278077364539192402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm particularly keen on the variety of tights in Korea. In a rainbow of colors, they come with feet, without feet, and even with half a foot . . . but no heel. A fashionista's options are endless!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw25P6FmsMO841Fzf0bMnin5vue9nMvZ6tgvhusi_ivnwUNsqGgmq3hdFWGKsMjLnYNVmhisRPFOJtauSFV5Z0eFcmbS3_X840ShdxVcJkM_-34xIdAKEBFfrOnedjayAzYe6UaEwVREHa/s1600-h/Seoul_socks_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw25P6FmsMO841Fzf0bMnin5vue9nMvZ6tgvhusi_ivnwUNsqGgmq3hdFWGKsMjLnYNVmhisRPFOJtauSFV5Z0eFcmbS3_X840ShdxVcJkM_-34xIdAKEBFfrOnedjayAzYe6UaEwVREHa/s400/Seoul_socks_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278076262217118162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Wintertime offerings get warmer 'n fuzzier, but socks are plentiful in Seoul year-round.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRp99E7UDj92p3EYOgGNHgsfbZPLZDo7dDjI-4rJFjEC9Gjc-XsyofLKkd4ipbZXn4c8GQiL1ktCahsfJ9h-gMdZMR8bPbzW53AZlD7Y56V_L_eOELQhJs_effsUyw1J6O8ouH5ZuFODa/s1600-h/Dokdo_socks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRp99E7UDj92p3EYOgGNHgsfbZPLZDo7dDjI-4rJFjEC9Gjc-XsyofLKkd4ipbZXn4c8GQiL1ktCahsfJ9h-gMdZMR8bPbzW53AZlD7Y56V_L_eOELQhJs_effsUyw1J6O8ouH5ZuFODa/s400/Dokdo_socks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278079465441861906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The won-yen exchange rate has brought many a Japanese tourist to Korea in recent weeks just for shopping. Something tells me they aren't buying "Dokdo Love" socks, though. I wonder if there are "Takeshima Love" socks in Japan???</span><br /></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-78584755147720638122008-12-03T15:34:00.001+09:002008-12-03T15:34:52.784+09:00Street squatting<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1e1TL6Y729lknOi38MRqpUSdB5FcVws_Y3BkDrpqRKr-dLwJaLyvv6vHjOv6fJgUmvApF8TaTepWbs1Ov9Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>In a <a href="http://hurricaneabbyhitsseoul.blogspot.com/2008/07/squatters.html">previous post</a>, I marveled over the prevalence of squatting among Koreans. It seems like anywhere you go, from the bus stop to the peaks of Mount Seorak, you'll find locals young and old resting on their haunches for seemingly excruciating amounts of time. I thought I had seen it all until I noticed a particularly dangerous display of this cultural phenomenon on my way to work a couple weeks ago. Does this woman have a death wish, or what?! Unfortunately, my video doesn't actually do this death-defying act justice. By the time I wrestled my camera from my bag, the traffic light was changing from green to yellow and the cars were slowing in speed and frequency, but you get the picture.<br /></div></divAbby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-45514476190582394552008-11-26T14:18:00.015+09:002008-11-26T16:40:42.670+09:00Kimjang<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDqspDEjywCiAc0xMPERI3tSDa2b9AcrDIJ00EsWbWiuUNfOEYjaiw65gn30uZuTePE2N9XMf-UZeAsn5GjsA7DLWrQCzU2LmVVovsJ0hMJbwx-mIzqnQrLvcmAhG91AtuMZnSq3yKnPo/s1600-h/kimjang_city_hall.jpg"></a></div><div align="left">'Tis the season for kimjang (김 장)! Ask people worldwide what comes to mind when they consider Korea and you're likely to hear "kimchi", the famous side dish of spicy, fermented cabbage with a powerful taste and a distinct smell, especially on your breath a few hours after you've eaten it! Kimjang is the centuries-long practice of making loads of kimchi to last through the winter. The custom has become less commonplace in modern times, as today's career women simply don't have time for the hours upon hours of washing, chopping, stuffing, and storing, and buying imported varieties in supermarkets is cheaper (and easier) than making the real deal. Still, many Korean homes are equipped with a refrigerator designed specifically to hold massive amounts of the accoutrement. Some families continue to store kimchi outside, buried underground. Since the trademark dish is served with nearly every Korean meal, making enough to last a family three or four months is surly a daunting task. My "Worldwide Friendship" co-host, Haewon Yoon, recently toiled with a group of friends for two days, turning 200 cabbages into kimchi. She was nice enough to take my camera along to capture the event. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs2UqFJc4LmgIV68zeGSlPZYgID3f8ZhmdKcNcpMBdLjYlaOhMKndJBHophz1gHGWgvk_Qg_zVfncpz81dvw6YpGI6r_Cwpd-O_GVjpP5F6h6ZKCGLzCK7zCUiRc0PRzyBXyB_Cd3RpJG/s1600-h/Kimjang_cabbage_pile.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272831338507799794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 279px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs2UqFJc4LmgIV68zeGSlPZYgID3f8ZhmdKcNcpMBdLjYlaOhMKndJBHophz1gHGWgvk_Qg_zVfncpz81dvw6YpGI6r_Cwpd-O_GVjpP5F6h6ZKCGLzCK7zCUiRc0PRzyBXyB_Cd3RpJG/s400/Kimjang_cabbage_pile.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">This is how it all begins. Haewon and friends used about 200 cabbages for this year's kimjang. The entire process takes about one week. Day 1 is spent washing the cabbages, preparing other ingredients, and soaking the cabbages in salt water.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPya-DAz_MHNlh2Hl7waaFsHndUSQBiqO0VaLb6osM7g3dmbGCRvAyCOJNDx_NCuoTlDKVtmxF-1SqkgESruVVoDfVx1JS47NOf2tZLZK6AWqyIo3o3YNlAnbNNny81xWjD21Ws9DdXHv3/s1600-h/Kimjang_greens.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272831522052819698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPya-DAz_MHNlh2Hl7waaFsHndUSQBiqO0VaLb6osM7g3dmbGCRvAyCOJNDx_NCuoTlDKVtmxF-1SqkgESruVVoDfVx1JS47NOf2tZLZK6AWqyIo3o3YNlAnbNNny81xWjD21Ws9DdXHv3/s400/Kimjang_greens.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Just a few of the many tubs of ingredients.<br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IV2AB-jslrouv88qOkk6OLtkIvs0j4ShzWkNyBTC0lvGWHAkIAxBmNCPpp1ccqiUWX34Qj4FKhW4Rz_larxM8WvfHt9_k-PsVQapTChyphenhyphenG-mwXnAQMeNgUeZ9-47fQTbaHPAUkkq9qwtb/s1600-h/Kimjang_washing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272832146102660850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 312px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IV2AB-jslrouv88qOkk6OLtkIvs0j4ShzWkNyBTC0lvGWHAkIAxBmNCPpp1ccqiUWX34Qj4FKhW4Rz_larxM8WvfHt9_k-PsVQapTChyphenhyphenG-mwXnAQMeNgUeZ9-47fQTbaHPAUkkq9qwtb/s400/Kimjang_washing.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Haewon, middle, and friends, preparing cabbages, radishes, and onions for kimjang.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxC19HqhS0yV0PlG6_YxgRORftejWfVi9Q-YTAjQ2o1E-wdxMhFJ7vdFpwv5hA2Sa7qBh5Ix42wH_h7e1Udqu_LYvb6DdLh4L6UGGS-BTcwpCAeHsh3dR1SGViEeDVv_6EhTXHCFmIS3wz/s1600-h/Kimjang_cabbage.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272831426982267074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxC19HqhS0yV0PlG6_YxgRORftejWfVi9Q-YTAjQ2o1E-wdxMhFJ7vdFpwv5hA2Sa7qBh5Ix42wH_h7e1Udqu_LYvb6DdLh4L6UGGS-BTcwpCAeHsh3dR1SGViEeDVv_6EhTXHCFmIS3wz/s400/Kimjang_cabbage.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The cabbages are halved and soak in salt water overnight before being stuffed on Day 2. Kimjang can be great exercise; Haewon came into work bemoaning sore limbs after two days of throwing hundreds of cabbages around. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272831643901032722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIm0gSE5f6bQpSUxFPai61qowFpgVRewQBT5V6DPh2lSL4UsqOqKofYyIDtwFvYI-t4Dufnc1YmU5U9jP8pCVnG94csgkyZk6G6xQvLazkj4lypd7VmMUe_pW2i2EaR2-uiugyV0wascP/s400/Kimjang_Haewon.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Here, Haewon is mixing up kkakdugi (깍 두 기), another popular side dish, made of cubed daikon radish, red pepper, garlic, onion, and spices.<br /></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwWRCVkEPN5zkPPA05RoQCQb89g7WsP1UfAEV1IMCW-jDcJOznPr79PdrLszh-zBYEI8b93bMQOBXP8rXdW-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">On Day 2, many gloved hands stuff hundreds of cabbages with red pepper powder, fish sauce, minced ginger, garlic, and green onions to create the delicacy widely regarded as one of the world's healthiest foods. After the stuffing, the kimchi will be packed in plastic containers (or earthenware jars, traditionally) where it will ferment. It's ready to eat in about a week and stays good through the winter. In fact, many people prefer aged kimchi over the freshly-made.</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDqspDEjywCiAc0xMPERI3tSDa2b9AcrDIJ00EsWbWiuUNfOEYjaiw65gn30uZuTePE2N9XMf-UZeAsn5GjsA7DLWrQCzU2LmVVovsJ0hMJbwx-mIzqnQrLvcmAhG91AtuMZnSq3yKnPo/s1600-h/kimjang_city_hall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272852246082194786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDqspDEjywCiAc0xMPERI3tSDa2b9AcrDIJ00EsWbWiuUNfOEYjaiw65gn30uZuTePE2N9XMf-UZeAsn5GjsA7DLWrQCzU2LmVVovsJ0hMJbwx-mIzqnQrLvcmAhG91AtuMZnSq3yKnPo/s400/kimjang_city_hall.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Over 2,000 volunteers came together outside Seoul's City Hall last week to make 58,000 cabbages worth of kimchi to be donated to underprivileged families. (Photo courtesy <a href="http://joongangdaily.joins.com/">JoongAng Daily</a>)</span><br /></p>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-62444111149955789112008-11-14T15:17:00.006+09:002008-11-14T15:44:45.906+09:00The CSAT stresses everyone out!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaprCGNMf4vfnjYh3Y87g8YYOjs996QKnQRWMcPgg5qLUIjdUwVsZZAYRDe5KzgeWxxRndKQEThgl5hITCcyP_oG_sJLe6D88VlfTxk5yVzlq6hkKqhsHwevdOlQfKbqo9OT4HTpwJNZE/s1600-h/CSAT_praying.jpg"></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwK8ovIMyufuEzXauvY7j2VKDf9wrAp2RBvq0PJBMGbLTTKuG4WEXCjW_cW3bf8rqHG5YItZOd9A554Q72vB6geistXrHS6dRpnEAt7XcaUH9Do78sthDBrlZBggFboaGz3dPRvYCvyA/s1600-h/CSAT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268398878548375426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwK8ovIMyufuEzXauvY7j2VKDf9wrAp2RBvq0PJBMGbLTTKuG4WEXCjW_cW3bf8rqHG5YItZOd9A554Q72vB6geistXrHS6dRpnEAt7XcaUH9Do78sthDBrlZBggFboaGz3dPRvYCvyA/s400/CSAT.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">From <em>The Korea Times</em>. A student is rushed by police escort to a testing site.</span> </div><div align="left"><br />This Thursday marked one of the biggest, and most high-stress, annual events in South Korea. About 590,000 high school students across the nation took the college entrance exam (College Scholastic Ability Test), which many believe will seal their fate when it comes to their future career prospects. As the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122644964013219173.html?mod=googlenews_wsj">Wall Street Journal</a> notes, the exam is a "national obsession", and its impacts stretch far wider than the students who take it. State employees go to work an hour later to cut down on commuter congestion. Oversleepers are rushed to exam sites by police escort. Parents wring their hands with worry that their kids' performance may reflect poor nurturing. Around the time of last year's exam, I posted the following entry to my personal blog:<br /><br /><strong>National University Entrance Exam Day</strong><br /><em>11/17/2007</em><br />This Thursday the high temperature in Seoul dropped a noticeable five degrees from the previous day. Those five degrees were enough to make everyone feel like winter is right around the corner. I hadn't really thought about it feeling colder until I was walking to the subway after work and remembered a sidebar to a prominent news story this week. Thursday, November 15, was national university entrance exam day. Legend says temperatures always dip on this very important day for Koreans. When I first heard that theory, early in the week, I was ready to call the BS card immediately, but I'm not kidding you; it was COLD Thursday!<br /><br />The temperature is just a small part of the story that surrounds exam day. For one thing, it really is just <em>one</em> day a year. High schoolers get one shot a year to put on their best game face and try to earn their way into one of Korea's top three universities. It's called aiming for the "SKY" because the top three schools are Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. If you score well enough to be accepted into one of these schools, you've got a great chance of making your career dreams come true. If you don't score well enough, many Koreans would say you might as well crawl into a hole and die. That's how much pressure there is on these kids to do well. So much that in recent years several suicides have been attributed to the stress associated with this make-or-break exam.<br /><br />Korean kids are groomed for academic success from the age of two or three. They're enrolled in "nursery schools" where they aren't just cutting out shapes and sloppily gluing them onto construction paper. They're learning foreign languages, how to read, how to play a musical instrument, and a variety of other things. Once kids start going to school, the intensity picks up. School gets out earlier here, around 1:00 or 2:00, but most kids spend the rest of the afternoon and evening attending several different academies. Sophia's daughter, for instance, goes to an English academy, a piano academy, an art academy, and takes swimming lessons. Most of the time, she doesn't go to bed until after 10:00PM . . . and she's 7 years old! Many parents will practically go broke paying for their kids to attend these academies (or "hagwons") because they know their kids can't be competitive academically without additional instruction. I tutor a 14 year-old once a week in English. I meet with him at 7:00PM to help him learn English, just as he's getting home from spending an hour or two at an English hagwon.<br /><br />So on national university entrance exam day, the government urges all civil servants to go to work one hour later so the public transportation system is less crowded for kids trying to make it to test sites on time. The military halts all flights and shooting drills so as not to distract students during listening portions of the exam. Mothers across the country take photos of their kids to local churches and Buddhist temples to be placed on altars.<br /><br />So while all these kids were biting their nails and drying their sweaty palms, I started reminiscing about taking the ACT as a junior in high school. I could have taken a prep course to get myself ready for the test, but I thought it sounded boring. I could have purchased a study guide to familiarize myself with the format of the test, but I needed that money for clothes! I probably could have at least gotten an adequate amount of sleep the night before the test, but I was too busy packing because as soon as the exam was over, I was heading to Florida for a vacation. Although I could have taken the test as many times as I was willing to pay to do so, I felt satisfied with my first score and really didn't want to deal with another four-hour exam, anyway. My score was hardly stellar, but just good enough to get me into the university of my choice. I'm not sure pressure entered into the scenario at all. I can guarantee you that even had I scored very poorly, I would not have considered my life to be over. Ironically, most Koreans would look at me in my current situation and say I'm very successful. The sad part is, that's mostly because I speak English.</div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-55129344709237584312008-11-11T15:28:00.008+09:002008-11-11T16:34:15.589+09:00November 11 is Pepero Day!<div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUsBgS7I6lNUG4_0jKUXwihHLHyRoLlve4dYnvghWetFFqb6QuWRlLS5Rgi1Q6pcO0KFfxRXEWjd0QFq2napBQ1_p2RguhNVFbw3MyLsCly6MeiHkR0n-QKfpNI_7xDL0yF2ZHFeuUdlx/s1600-h/IMG_6210.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267284037110691650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUsBgS7I6lNUG4_0jKUXwihHLHyRoLlve4dYnvghWetFFqb6QuWRlLS5Rgi1Q6pcO0KFfxRXEWjd0QFq2napBQ1_p2RguhNVFbw3MyLsCly6MeiHkR0n-QKfpNI_7xDL0yF2ZHFeuUdlx/s400/IMG_6210.jpg" border="0" /></a> The already ubiquitous sweet treat is even more visible today, with the gift of chocolately, crunchy cookie sticks being bestowed upon friends, lovers, and co-workers nationwide. Pepero (빼 빼 로) means "skinny like a stick", and while most Pepero varieties fit the bill, on this special day you can find gigantic examples no averge human could possibly consume on his or her own. Some reports suggest Lotte Confectionary, which manufactures Pepero, makes 55 percent of its annual earnings in November, thanks in large part to Pepero Day. Another newsy tidbit: many schools have restricted their students from Pepero Day celebrations, since the commercial holiday falls on the important national observance of Farmers Day. With bounds of Pepero covering my desk by 3:00, I'm wondering . . . is it kosher to re-gift Pepero? </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgkEsISaQPeag3x8_ujlDT9sMHjjN1CXnh72RXe4oQmHIZsuE_sfQEkIL4WFsuOmbVAr6GvjjRLqYSpfOKfrHKvQcLpoShXlaWKKFCKcy7enpsevHLObCv93JzzuBERab9i7T79XkSNLA/s1600-h/IMG_6211.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267285672974813474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgkEsISaQPeag3x8_ujlDT9sMHjjN1CXnh72RXe4oQmHIZsuE_sfQEkIL4WFsuOmbVAr6GvjjRLqYSpfOKfrHKvQcLpoShXlaWKKFCKcy7enpsevHLObCv93JzzuBERab9i7T79XkSNLA/s400/IMG_6211.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> </a><span style="font-size:85%;">One of our listeners impressed the English section by sending a huge box with various types of Pepero. Thanks, Steve! </span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267287805760448642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu7HdysCczwnm7PUPEN37Zl8-ra1xaJJx-9adxDqiOMI1PWFytfTGMG7vT0yBxJCloW479DHG7Zq1-4ZqX16p2SFtUSkNJDx5HIqf15qOfUXEP0HxnV-ArhHgrI9GOIwz8k8Gs_xoBLhG/s400/IMG_6214.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">When it comes to Pepero, the options are endless. They range from the inexpensive, but most popular varieties you can find in any convenience store, to more expensive varities available at bakeries. KBS World Spanish service chief, Sonia, poses with fancy Pepero.</span></p><p align="center"> </p>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-12726244615249935142008-11-04T19:15:00.005+09:002008-11-05T10:20:18.539+09:00I Voted!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kx_BcMvp4ff9eINYLrBh6aTGJ3o1_YuFMzC3IqS8LydNB1bTBsjPOjDS2vl1Zjk7Dt3atjaDdrsvQ7g4HNIdKjTxCSf9cZer9MwiQOsTVvswKGgxa36JFDI0mJigIKbmP2wquAaai0QM/s1600-h/Absentee_ballot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kx_BcMvp4ff9eINYLrBh6aTGJ3o1_YuFMzC3IqS8LydNB1bTBsjPOjDS2vl1Zjk7Dt3atjaDdrsvQ7g4HNIdKjTxCSf9cZer9MwiQOsTVvswKGgxa36JFDI0mJigIKbmP2wquAaai0QM/s400/Absentee_ballot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264752639410657778" border="0" /></a><br />I was a little disappointed that there was no "I Voted" sticker in my absentee ballot packet. Like many Americans, I have become completely immersed in the excitement of this year's election. On one hand, it's a bummer to be half-way around the world as my fellow Americans head to the polls on Election Day. On the other hand, it's been very interesting to live in a foreign country during a historic campaign that comes at a tumultuous time for the entire world.<br /><br />I've done some very unscientific polling, and concluded that Koreans' opinions about the U.S. election are just as diverse as the U.S. itself. Many Koreans tell me they like Barack Obama, but believe John McCain will win. Most say conservative U.S. policy better serves Korea. Some have blatantly said, "I like Obama, but . . . he's <span style="font-style: italic;">black</span>," while others have intimated that the Illinois senator's good looks should be reason enough to vote for him. McCain's P.O.W. experience pulls at some heartstrings, but some have said he's just too old. And I've been humbled by a few who have said, "I'm not American. I don't <span style="font-style: italic;">care</span>."<br /><br />Since the results will pour in during my Wednesday morning, I'm looking forward to observing the atmosphere around KBS. I may be the only one riding an emotional roller coaster tomorrow, alternately shrieking with joy and anxiously wringing my hands, but there's no doubt many are looking forward to seeing how America votes.Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-20748922286280814632008-11-03T16:33:00.016+09:002008-11-03T17:54:21.660+09:00Hiking Dobong Mountain (도 봉 산)Hiking is one of Koreans' favorite pastimes, and autumn is the best time of year to catch breathtaking views and comfortable temperatures. <a href="http://www.discoveringkorea.com">Matt Kelley</a> and I headed north to Dobongsan on Sunday to join the crowds for a fun and beautiful hike. We left Seoul around 6am and took the subway (Line 1) to Dobongsan Station. We marveled at opportunity to access an area so starkly different from Seoul by subway in just an hour.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtpEYUcnDLe1xIdu0wJY_Ybg4KRJa5ngvxKMLT1BWEqtVitP22HWjUAM2JgeQCflkYyj-PlJ6iMqpeg3Z6u6DEg3vuIvwSbRujJ5B4HusL64XSGUxFITXYiE6LinwfDkZIpPV3hvPlyCm/s1600-h/Dobongsan_hikers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtpEYUcnDLe1xIdu0wJY_Ybg4KRJa5ngvxKMLT1BWEqtVitP22HWjUAM2JgeQCflkYyj-PlJ6iMqpeg3Z6u6DEg3vuIvwSbRujJ5B4HusL64XSGUxFITXYiE6LinwfDkZIpPV3hvPlyCm/s400/Dobongsan_hikers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264332144828860562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2T831hZKTo9zxRR_x3qIpK23DdPyOjGLAVMPo62SxvdjVFSOYgTZmyC_GDDXKXFduIJrY3Em3W4AQG-Bi8Y2D2_GI6m2Cwq9YWs6CliL06kQkIZDy0lipDxl5LIL50QiuiRpN_qfCKKy/s1600-h/Dobongsan_Matt.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2T831hZKTo9zxRR_x3qIpK23DdPyOjGLAVMPo62SxvdjVFSOYgTZmyC_GDDXKXFduIJrY3Em3W4AQG-Bi8Y2D2_GI6m2Cwq9YWs6CliL06kQkIZDy0lipDxl5LIL50QiuiRpN_qfCKKy/s400/Dobongsan_Matt.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264335504266694914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Matt snags a shot of one of Dobongsan's peaks on our way up.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9npGNqV_6E7xOiFcweNZZyyHbioIoRajB7VVNxplglQc6N5sfTBV34I7jzOv_TS-lgvXHe0PdPnnUDTiUugJUdhyphenhyphenILHTtxKKx-RvFolszFuCsUp2WImc9bAi2Wn7N59k5rZ9XmlSApyr/s1600-h/Dobongsan_break.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9npGNqV_6E7xOiFcweNZZyyHbioIoRajB7VVNxplglQc6N5sfTBV34I7jzOv_TS-lgvXHe0PdPnnUDTiUugJUdhyphenhyphenILHTtxKKx-RvFolszFuCsUp2WImc9bAi2Wn7N59k5rZ9XmlSApyr/s400/Dobongsan_break.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264332414690016498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxR9Vpf6tIiz0nc2aRiXNAtfrdl-JLTHQGYckCH8Rdwowh7UEvTrlrs0WP_DT7ww4OnSWiG9MIAP65SSWxdpCUwO7O-l47ghWlLYdTHjW7JayyMMCwmXz-zhsd4Tv6FbQ2jl1N_uql5Q0/s1600-h/Dobongsan-peak.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxR9Vpf6tIiz0nc2aRiXNAtfrdl-JLTHQGYckCH8Rdwowh7UEvTrlrs0WP_DT7ww4OnSWiG9MIAP65SSWxdpCUwO7O-l47ghWlLYdTHjW7JayyMMCwmXz-zhsd4Tv6FbQ2jl1N_uql5Q0/s400/Dobongsan-peak.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264338774714955346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The top! Check out the guy just casually perched on a rock, with death just a slip away!</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">Somehow, I always forget that I'm terrified of heights until I find myself hundreds of meters above sea level with a line of hikers behind me, waiting as I muster the courage for the next death-defying step. Thankfully, Matt was a calming coach.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeJy13_s3X53q6WTvMdiEW6z0uLsFJTty2fCuE8XvBqM-n8KvqH3huJjlLvguUqqgqwWmE2W1mIQGYAV_LIfa5eX1vAi4dCKTlIRx2jcyrcTD1z996hgVI-1pgvpQ5V_hkzuCN1nAp502/s1600-h/Dobongsan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeJy13_s3X53q6WTvMdiEW6z0uLsFJTty2fCuE8XvBqM-n8KvqH3huJjlLvguUqqgqwWmE2W1mIQGYAV_LIfa5eX1vAi4dCKTlIRx2jcyrcTD1z996hgVI-1pgvpQ5V_hkzuCN1nAp502/s400/Dobongsan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264337889332079618" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View from the top (my demeanor was not quite so casual)</span>. <span style="font-size:85%;">That's Mt. Bukhan in the distance.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0P0U_6wcj0Fie-roHHmlI2MB7Blus54ERjxExoG6k1NJdXwq_LH0FVvNMAP-PTAAG77NxiED6dUS5RMUKG9cU0puOB3HSSTur9HTDTPnf0xCnPyL_mN-Q1x52mkiRI0dJzoA6TzAXM1t/s1600-h/Dobongsan_Abby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0P0U_6wcj0Fie-roHHmlI2MB7Blus54ERjxExoG6k1NJdXwq_LH0FVvNMAP-PTAAG77NxiED6dUS5RMUKG9cU0puOB3HSSTur9HTDTPnf0xCnPyL_mN-Q1x52mkiRI0dJzoA6TzAXM1t/s400/Dobongsan_Abby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264335298969675026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Hanging on for dear life along the ridge line while begrudgingly cooperating for a photo</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CHWypQxr4JUMMA5AXnyYhMNa8w3vnBCQsXuajNl_ofL6F14nmtoCRU8zV7Gxx1V8-uw_lwNfQfSxEHxvsr_AXAH7kmQSlovhtpC41LkcGn6Cpc4J4Tza7JOJdvmhs9l8NxSCMhFn4tmS/s1600-h/Dobongsan_hiking.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CHWypQxr4JUMMA5AXnyYhMNa8w3vnBCQsXuajNl_ofL6F14nmtoCRU8zV7Gxx1V8-uw_lwNfQfSxEHxvsr_AXAH7kmQSlovhtpC41LkcGn6Cpc4J4Tza7JOJdvmhs9l8NxSCMhFn4tmS/s400/Dobongsan_hiking.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264333170061679970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Descending is more my style</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_OpPzKwzPFL6GUMz5LtLxiAsxgBjJ9DvdPdtTgk2RhsmEphzjBPDNkLsB-0Z8n2Mn3vpdhkF70a64aLcFEbsFduZe-T8Y-E4r9p_lzGKLX40tO3dq9XLDnZ2Ge8ZTSUoedVS4LImnbnp/s1600-h/Dobongsan_leaves.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_OpPzKwzPFL6GUMz5LtLxiAsxgBjJ9DvdPdtTgk2RhsmEphzjBPDNkLsB-0Z8n2Mn3vpdhkF70a64aLcFEbsFduZe-T8Y-E4r9p_lzGKLX40tO3dq9XLDnZ2Ge8ZTSUoedVS4LImnbnp/s400/Dobongsan_leaves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264334532278643954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHBJyCGNUOnxyTS75L7_ZP_h97wNgHtC4Egc5Cl6pOtRr37KBfp5Y-QRaPBq7map_SDZKKevTlcNCJ-zWRheEWKv47aprCcL9vMAlHfB0_kbQNeIXjYfR9iIsQlDRVMOalvMWcdvKEWQp/s1600-h/Donbongsan_chilis.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHBJyCGNUOnxyTS75L7_ZP_h97wNgHtC4Egc5Cl6pOtRr37KBfp5Y-QRaPBq7map_SDZKKevTlcNCJ-zWRheEWKv47aprCcL9vMAlHfB0_kbQNeIXjYfR9iIsQlDRVMOalvMWcdvKEWQp/s400/Donbongsan_chilis.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264340926040378002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We found these chilies out to dry near a Buddhist temple</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW_auVT1CxBKr4jobmMH5j9qNPu0jXKemqp5emS8rQXRJm1xvu41BwUh1vW1yCH0FDzcUk0i67AgnRp-PM7clgc8pEhFZdBrRbLnSI9dFY1Vt4N782OgZ0-tY4TgXrpBaKKY_9jBmraDb/s1600-h/Donbongsan_statues.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW_auVT1CxBKr4jobmMH5j9qNPu0jXKemqp5emS8rQXRJm1xvu41BwUh1vW1yCH0FDzcUk0i67AgnRp-PM7clgc8pEhFZdBrRbLnSI9dFY1Vt4N782OgZ0-tY4TgXrpBaKKY_9jBmraDb/s400/Donbongsan_statues.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264341477112172018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U9pNRxxRaxo09u8TpUAbSSDre2rNWyChMtfc5kCZRLIynCFgoemogB6Gyt1rEtCTMuz_x_lXYXBNkSF-XxJtIj0Ln43TOFeXEsCDckmubr3dLL7CzeyICtvLY97hpWDp-F1-y589mEE_/s1600-h/Dobongsan_statues.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U9pNRxxRaxo09u8TpUAbSSDre2rNWyChMtfc5kCZRLIynCFgoemogB6Gyt1rEtCTMuz_x_lXYXBNkSF-XxJtIj0Ln43TOFeXEsCDckmubr3dLL7CzeyICtvLY97hpWDp-F1-y589mEE_/s400/Dobongsan_statues.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264344945195125890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUfX8SElCgt5QMsL4UvVrM8bA_eofOqqwDJWu6UC-C3To8B3i23gjk2dyaFkgx8wE2fL1XnFsAOeXqYmrNjqDhXKwtE6QBmV1ilyrIOPd0DdbIJkPvXIIobDcbPxx0imUTbHLK58vMoBr/s1600-h/Seoul_from_Dobongsan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUfX8SElCgt5QMsL4UvVrM8bA_eofOqqwDJWu6UC-C3To8B3i23gjk2dyaFkgx8wE2fL1XnFsAOeXqYmrNjqDhXKwtE6QBmV1ilyrIOPd0DdbIJkPvXIIobDcbPxx0imUTbHLK58vMoBr/s400/Seoul_from_Dobongsan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264343811218253922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Seoul through the trees</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpAdrIHV6tYSC21t_UTVAourkeAgUA-JLDjcxWEm5zMK5f27XXnTcBYUWtaV3OIMenroc5PVCp24gTMvcTq5ubQLu-6s08kY94cwZBZD2_0ZvB_x_8AOlF_9tTEkwyjJ7A2nquOxM6lcm/s1600-h/Dobongsan_climbers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpAdrIHV6tYSC21t_UTVAourkeAgUA-JLDjcxWEm5zMK5f27XXnTcBYUWtaV3OIMenroc5PVCp24gTMvcTq5ubQLu-6s08kY94cwZBZD2_0ZvB_x_8AOlF_9tTEkwyjJ7A2nquOxM6lcm/s400/Dobongsan_climbers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264346709933950738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Look close for the truly crazy . . . at least they're attached to a rope!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtpEYUcnDLe1xIdu0wJY_Ybg4KRJa5ngvxKMLT1BWEqtVitP22HWjUAM2JgeQCflkYyj-PlJ6iMqpeg3Z6u6DEg3vuIvwSbRujJ5B4HusL64XSGUxFITXYiE6LinwfDkZIpPV3hvPlyCm/s1600-h/Dobongsan_hikers.JPG"><br /></a>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-15569538650689382172008-10-24T11:09:00.005+09:002008-10-24T11:37:58.582+09:00Soju in juice boxes!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxP5NXr4qg2aHsA5uesZcT9BXNaeT_IwVdITlCXjEvWs9TvzUiita5wzntY-cKyNTkOz5ZXN2JuxDvKsWVDRZt2ZTEyQl1GRNAaFoaY7Bp_uPphpJpswHu8BPPvnzitsJ_xylsvLSVvmoQ/s1600-h/Soju_boxes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxP5NXr4qg2aHsA5uesZcT9BXNaeT_IwVdITlCXjEvWs9TvzUiita5wzntY-cKyNTkOz5ZXN2JuxDvKsWVDRZt2ZTEyQl1GRNAaFoaY7Bp_uPphpJpswHu8BPPvnzitsJ_xylsvLSVvmoQ/s400/Soju_boxes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260540740742208050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was almost a year into my Korean tenure when I finally discovered a handy dandy innovation that ensures no situation must ever be void of Korea's signature distilled spirit: Soju "juice boxes". Designed to make soju-on-the-go a logistical breeze, the clever packaging means Koreans (or anyone else) heading abroad can tote their revered beverage without concern that reckless baggage handlers will leave their suitcase full of broken green glass and clothes reeking of alcohol. Since the price of soju in foreign countries is often six times higher than the domestic rate, it pays to buy it here and enjoy it there. But of course this nifty option isn't reserved for practical travelers. Since my initial discovery of soju boxes at Costco, I've seen a few people around Seoul actually sipping from the cardboard containers a la Hi-C style.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWn1TtlbJq8s8Ni6fV0s7aU9NAuRdMurywTYL1gvZ8ELG_LWXZOVEQDC62x1LNQsJZkEoqIfUQZyeP6M0b9xIBaEHtwUyw8pbaMcEGvcHNXgUu9__VgWixTIQyt8IBFY-s0ICkalDvzCJ/s1600-h/Soju_boxes_Chris.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWn1TtlbJq8s8Ni6fV0s7aU9NAuRdMurywTYL1gvZ8ELG_LWXZOVEQDC62x1LNQsJZkEoqIfUQZyeP6M0b9xIBaEHtwUyw8pbaMcEGvcHNXgUu9__VgWixTIQyt8IBFY-s0ICkalDvzCJ/s400/Soju_boxes_Chris.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260540603600125890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Chris and I discovered soju boxes during a trip to Costco. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div>Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320321699589252870.post-38188665647694800952008-10-16T16:55:00.003+09:002008-10-16T17:04:24.913+09:00Korea Sparkling . . . in Shanghai!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlV8rRopXE9OZlQarW-4fOPOr919S-_u2KDylrqDeIFp3PBuMUjYnXn_3mCpa1Xc281-cDr13JFS6OaraDuelmeyLi0k-26nF60FZwcRd2TOkQZKGdGDZmZirg6V2J_mVMjubdwDA0rmL/s1600-h/Koreasparkling.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlV8rRopXE9OZlQarW-4fOPOr919S-_u2KDylrqDeIFp3PBuMUjYnXn_3mCpa1Xc281-cDr13JFS6OaraDuelmeyLi0k-26nF60FZwcRd2TOkQZKGdGDZmZirg6V2J_mVMjubdwDA0rmL/s400/Koreasparkling.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257657373412496626" border="0" /></a>I was so excited to find this Korea tourism office right around the corner from my hotel in Shanghai, China last week. Unfortunately, the office wasn't open when I walked by, but it was great to find a little taste of "home" during my trip. <br /><br />This week Korea announced 2010-2012 are "Visit Korea" years. The tourism promotion campaign is the third of its kind and seeks to bring 10 million tourists and $10 billion in tourism money to Korea annually by 2012. The campaign committee has plans for more on-site promotion projects in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. More offices like this could be popping up in a neighborhood near you!Abby Rhodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07522956942884378037noreply@blogger.com4