Adventures in Korea (Part 1)

After a busy June, I came back to the motherland to get some much-needed vacation. It's been almost a week since I landed at Incheon Int'l Airport and I am still a little bit jet legged... It's different being back during the summer - I was here last during winter break 1.5 years ago (beginning of 2007). Thankfully it has been more rainy than hot/humid, though the clothes I brought are mostly for hot/humid, making my travels in well-air conditioned vehicles and buildings somewhat chilly.

The Best Thing So Far. Being pampered by my parents and not having to worry about cooking food or the costs of eating out. It is amazing to get a break from being independent and responsible. It is even more amazing that my sister is not here (no offense, sis) because now I know what it feels like to be an only child. ;-)

The Worst Thing So Far. Losing my camera to the force of gravity (and admittedly my own clumsy hurriedness). It is now in the shop for assessment of the damages done to the lens (which will cost at least $80 if damage is minimal plus $15 service fee... So I might end up getting a new one).

Stripped. Even though I didn't get that many calls to begin with on a daily basis, it is weird not having a cell phone with me all the time - the right pocket feels emptier, freer. I occasionally can hear my phone ringing even though I don't have it on or with me. In a way, I feel powerless... and no longer in sync with time (I use my cell phone to check time, all the time... I stopped wearing watches in middle/high school, but maybe it's a habit I should pick back up).

Strangest Experience. You hear about how in third world countries groups of children come up to you to beg for change (e.g. Thailand, Mexico) or for a hug (e.g. Uganda) if they know you are a tourist or visitor. You would never expect something like that in the 13 largest economy in the world. But the moment I entered a relatively obscure and narrow electronics market in Yongsan (known for its electronics market, U.S. military base, and red light district, among other things), there were 4 or 5 simultaneous pleas by seemingly-desperate (or persistent) salespeople/merchants clamoring for my attention to buy their cell phones.

Poisoned Youth. Those who wish you make an impact on society know well to target its youth. I don't know enough history to give specific examples, but I'm sure the sweeping societal movements in the past century (e.g. the rise of communism in Europe and China to the use of child soldiers of Africa and Southeast Asia) were in part fueled by targeting the youth. There is no doubt that youth are potent targets, as they will inevitably become the next generation's leaders in positions of power. Christians are not immune from doing this either (remember the NYT article on the Christian Union? By the way, Tim Havens, one of the guys featured in the article, is a year ahead of me at my school). Even many of Jesus' disciples were 18- or 19- year old young 'uns.

Anyways, the reason I bring this up is that apparently the KTU, a major teacher's union in Korea that's exclusive to Marxists and similar-minded people, has taken over writing the textbooks for Korea's primary and secondary schools. I don't know Korean politics too well (in fact, almost nil), but what's disturbing is that these KTU-published Social Studies books (sponsored by the Korean government no less, thanks in part to the past president's support of these sponsorships) neglect to include anything about Christianity - not only in Korean cultural history but in Western history as well! Now, anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of Western history knows the impact that Christianity has had on Western knowledge, thought, philosophy, etc. so the omission is deeply disturbing and duly noted. Not only that, these Social Studies book tend to put North Korea in an overly positive light (despite all the human rights violations and many injustices going on there right now). A lot of this is according to one of my mom's friends, who has a Middle School Grade 1 (U.S equivalent 7th grader) in school and she's pretty actively involved in seeing what her daughter learns in school (as are many other Korean parents). When I heard all this, I was pretty disturbed... brainwashed children in SOUTH Korea?! Alas, that seems to be the case... Then it should be no surprise that inflammatory anti-Americanism has spread so rampantly in this country where protests about U.S. beef imports seem endless - I would not be surprised if the schools and their KTU/Marxist teachers had some impact on public opinion.

Coffee Houses. Yes, Starbucks cafes run rampant even in Korea, but there are tons of classy coffee houses as well. I think the abundance of these coffee houses hints at this nation's obsession of wanting to live out the life of the Korean drama and all the hopeless romanticism that goes along with that dream. Of course, the dramas themselves can be a reflection of what was already there, so it becomes a chicken/egg problem.

A Tale of Two Churches. I visited two Korean churches (one where I actually know people because I grew up there from age 0 to 9). One was a size of about 400 adults and the other about 30. The former had a diverse range of age (though mostly young families) and drew mostly from the local people who live in that neighborhood, while the latter were almost all adults age 40+ who are professionals, artists, and professors. Even the preaching style was distinctly distinguished (one pretty down to earth - almost to a fault - and the other quite scholarly/erudite, e.g. bringing in Greek Hellenism into the sermon). It reminded me that not all churches are the same - we saw that Apostle Paul's letters to the seven churches had varying themes appropriate for each's distinct character and struggles.

Where the Ladies at? In the U.S. the ring on the fourth left finger signifies something really important. In its presence, the lady is pretty much off limits unless you want to cause trouble. But it's a safe bet to go after her in the absence of that ring (unless you find out she has some burly boyfriend who no likes you). Not so in Korea! It is much more common for married couples NOT to wear their rings... the wedding ring is probably more of a Western cultural tradition anyway (I'm pretty sure De Beers, while remarkable in their "diamond is forever campaign", weren't clever to actually invent the ritual of the ring giving/exchange). I guess when you reach a certain age, esp. for women, people assume you are married... the addition of offspring crying and whining near these women usually solidifies this hunch. So in a pool of relatively young 20-somethings, it is very difficult for a single guy to figure out who is who... which makes me rethink the use of matchmaking (formal, as in hiring someone, or informal, as in through mutual friends or parents) in Korea, which might fit the Korean cultural mold better given its ambiguity with ring showing.

No Turning Back. It is incredibly difficult for someone to mess up on an exit and get to their destination without sacrificing a significant amount of time, which makes for interesting "backing into the traffic" maneuvers done to avoid going into the wrong exit. Driving is crazy here!

What I Miss Most in the USA. Shooting hoops at a pick-up game at church or school gym.

What I Don't Miss Right Now. STL weather and having to adjust to roommate #4.