Annyung! See you in Korea!

If a foreign visitor has only one day to spend in Korea, I want to recommend the Samchung village in Seoul.  Samchung village is located in the center of Seoul. 



Samchung village is very famous for Korean traditional architectures.  When you go there, you can see many Korean traditional houses.  Moreover, you can experience Korean traditional houses because there are lots of artist’s studios or galleries in the houses.  Korean traditional houses are environmental friendly.  The structure is suitable to each season.  This means that in summer, it is cool because of the opened windows and doors structures, and in winter, it is warm because of the Ondole which is floor heating system.

Samchung village is also famous for lots of Korean traditional food.  You can see many restaurants and cafes.  especially, spicy foods.  I want to introduce Korean spicy food to the visitor.  I think it will be a unique experience for foreigners.  Dduckboggi is one of the famous Korean spicy foods.  We put lot of red pepper and vegetable to make it.  You can see the Dduckboggi restaurant in the village, and the price is reasonable!

Also, you can taste Korean traditional dessert café.  In fact, Korean traditional dessert cafe is even unusual in Korea, but you can see the café in Samchung village.  The dessert is usually sweet and well decorated.  There are lots of Korean desserts, but the famous thing is rice cake.  I recommend that you try rice cake with green tea.  They café has comfortable atmosphere, so after this one day trip, you can take a rest as experiencing the Korean traditional dessert.

[#6 Posting] Writing

After I came to Austin, US, I could notice that there are lots of differences about writing between Korea and America.  I want to compare these differences in order to understand both people's philosophy.

In Korea, there are various methods to write an essay.  People can put the important sentence to the last of paragraph or in the middle of paragraph.  Thus, it is one of the most crucial training for students to find the key sentence in the paragraph.  Also, we may not use thesis statement in their sentence.  As a matter of fact, the experts of the writing are willing to pass the thesis sentence because people think that the good writers can transfer their opinion without direct statements.  This writing makes people super concentrate on the writing, and sometimes some people cannot understand what the author say.  I think this is one of the Korean history.  First of all, Korean language, Hangul has a different structure from English.  the verb is located in the last.  Thus, people concentrate on the sentence to the last of the sentence.  Also, Korea was a kingdom country for long time.  The royal family and the noble class want some gap with the others.  If they use difficult writing format and different language, only the well educated people can understand the writing.  I believe that because of the reasons that I mentioned above, Korea have various writing format.

In U.S.A., I noticed that the writing way is so direct and simple.  I can understand what the author want to say through just checking a few sentences.  I think it is efficient although I cannot see various writing formats.  I think it is because of American's pragmatism.  I could feel the pragmatism in large part of my life in America.  For example, the china design of traditional America brand is so simple and easy to handle compared to other country, such as Europe and China.  This shows us how American like practical things  People in America regard the main purpose of writing as a transfer method of the author's opinion, so they want to focus on the goal.

 

[#5 Posting] Class

I experienced both Korean and American class in University, so I can feel the differences between them.  Comparing differences is very fun to me because I can prove the cultural differences, especially, the difference of education. 

The most differnt thing is the students' participation.  In Korea, if students ask or say in the middle of class, they think this behavior interupts other students' concentration.  Moreover, they even think that the student who did like this have a strong intention to show off.  Thus, Korean students usually don't ask or coment in class. Instead, they ask the question after class.  However, in America, I saw many students feel free to ask teachers about question right after they find it.  Also, teachers answer the question natually. 

The second difference is about the relationship between teacher and student.  In Korea, people think teacher is higher person, and students are lower person.  What I mean is that Korean students are strongly educated to respect their teacher.  For example, students in Korea can not call the teacher's name.  In America, it was unfamiliar to call my teacher's name!  Whenever I called my teacher's name, I even felt guilty.  This makes me feel rude.  However, In America, I think students also respect their teachers, but they have more equal relationship.


Although I felt the differences between students in both nations, I could find a lot of similarities. 

[#4 Posting] American Individualism

One of the most culture differences between Korea and America is Individualism.  I think that Individualism has both sides, good and bad side.  I want to expain these sides, and my opinion about it.

First of all, In America, people understand differences well.  They don't think that difference means wrong.  Sometimes, Korean people might think if someone is different from them, they are wrong.  Because they has very similar culture, and there are not many foriegn people like America.  However, I felt that American understand the differnce well.  I think it is because of their Invidualism.  They don't care a lot about other people if there are no relations.  What they concern is only theirselves.  Therefore, it is hard to judge other people for them.

Also, Individualism makes people safe, but not happy.  What I mean is that people don't suffer from other people because they don't want to harras others.  However, I think that they felt lonely because it is easy to think that they are alone.  For example, I could see a lot of people who eat lunch alone on campus in America.  In Korea, eating alone on campus mean the person don't have any friend.  Thus, when I saw many people were eating alone on campus, it looked lonely.  Because of Individualism, I think that they always don't want to spend time to their friends.

All in all, I don't know whether Individualism is good or not.  However, I believe that there is no answer.  If we use it well, it can operate good in our society.

[# 3 posting] Pet shelters in America

I am very interested in animal rights, so I continued to volunteer pet shelters both in Korea and in US.  In Korea, pet culture is not long, so the pet shelters don’t be organized, yet.  However, I think America has long pet culture, so they have already have lots of “know-how” about it.  Actually, after I experienced
both pet shelters, I realized the same opinion that I mention above.  Therefore, I want to say about the key factors that American pet shelters have in order to learn about it.



The first key factor is American pet shelters know the pets well.  This means that they already know about pet’s behaviors, usual medical problems, and etc.  Therefore, they can handle the pets without confusing. This makes them operate the shelter with not only their sympathy but also an appropriate responds to the pets.

The second important factor is that people have a strong trust about the pet shelters.  I think the best way to save pets in shelters is adoption.  In order that people in their neighbors adopt many pets, the shelters give them a trust about the shelter pets.  Personally, I volunteered in the dog-walking part in Austin Pets
Alive.  In there, I can see many dogs are trained well by volunteers, so the dogs in the shelter are perfect for pets, now!  For these reasons, I believe that people don’t hesitate to adopt pets from shelters.

The third important thing of American pet shelters is that they are supported by lots of people.  They can operate the shelter with high rates of donations.  Because of these donations, they can handle their pets well.  Moreover, there are well organized animal hospitals.  This means that many local animal hospitals volunteer the medical service to pet shelter. As you know, medical service is very important to pets in shelter because they are needed to get a health inspection.  Therefore, the pets in shelter can keep healthy.



All in all, I think that the factors that I mentioned above are the fundamental reasons why US pet shelters are developed well.  In the future, I want to learn about the specific system of pet shelter.

[#2 Post] Relationship with Nature

Regarding relationship with nature, both Korean and American want to enjoy unpolluted nature, and protect it.  I think it is humans natural mind because we are from nature and in nature.  However, there are some differences between these two country.

Compare to Korea, American love natural parks, and fresh air.  It seems they know how this nature can give us good things.  For example, they want to live near good park, and they try to protect their neighbor's nature.  Also, they loves animals. I can see many squirrels on campus, there are lots of birds in the city.  They don't want to destroy it.  I think it is very good way to live together.  On the other hands, in Korea, although people like to be with nature, they think developing the city is more important.  This means that if they have some empty area, they try to build building to earn money.  Therefore, they have only small parts of parks near them.

Another difference is the trash system.  When I came to Austin, I was surprised because I can trash all without distributing recycle stuff.  In fact, it was so convenience, but I worried about the fact that they don't recycle their trash.  This means their tremendous trashes go to the landfill in America.  Although America has large land, their next generation will suffer from these contaminated land.  In Korea, recycle policy is very strict, so people should not trash recyclable stuffs.  Moreover, We should trash wet trash only one day of the week.  Also, in order to trash, we should buy special plastic bags which decay well in soil.  Therefore, people try to reduce trash, and the minimizing trash technology was developed.  I think for next generation, it is important habit.

[#1 Posting] Cultural Differences

After I came to Austin, I feel the culture differences between Korea and USA.  Sometimes it makes me embarrass, but it is usually interesting.

One of the cultural differences is indoor life-style, especially the carpet culture.  In Korea, people use carpet in the living room, bed room, and restroom.  However, they don't use it most of house.  In Austin, there are rug on all the floor of my house except kitchen.

At first, it was uncomfortable because it is hard for me to clean perfectly.  This means that when I spill some soda on the floor, I can't polish the site.  What I can do is only spray the carpet cleaner and try to get rid of soda from rug.  Moreover, on the rug, it is difficult to use a vacuum machine.  However, now I found out the good points of this indoor culture.  I always feel soft whenever I walk around the house.  Also, it can protect my furniture from hard floor.

This is the biggest difference that I feel about indoor life style between Korea and USA.

Tips for Learning English!

I want to share some tips for learning English.

 

First of all, when I practice English vocabulary, I usually listen to mp3 files which pronounce the vocabularies.  If I listen, watch and say the vocabularies at the same time, it is easy to remember.  In order to do this, I use vocabulary books.  There are lots of vocabulary books in the book stores, and on the book, you can find the online website address that can buy the mp3 files.  At first it may be bothersome, but you can realize that it is very efficient to remember vocabulary.

 

Another tip for learning English is to watching American drama.  In my case, I watch the series “Good wife” on every Sunday night on CBN.  The story of drama is so interesting, so I can concentrate on the English conversation more easily.  It can help me to listen to English.  Most of all, you can improve your English with fun!

 

Lastly, my hobby is reading a book.  However, after I came to Austin, I changed my hobby to read an English book.  As you know, we can borrow lots of English books at the library on the Campus.  I borrow English book, and read as my hobby.  Because I chose the books which I really interested in, I can enjoy the books.  Although It can be hard to read in English at first, it become easy to read soon.  After finish the book in English, you also can have confident.  This is really helpful to study English.

 

All in all, these are my tips for learning English.  I hope it help your English study.

Inspiring Movie: le miserables

Le miserables is the movie that inspired me these days.  I watched the movie in Korea before Christmas day, and I watched again in Austin because I really like the music and story. 

This movie is about one of the old famous story called "Jean Valjean".  Jean Valjean was suffered from his conviction record.  People hated him, and he even couldn't get a job.  One day, he stole some silver stuff from church, but he catched by police.  However, the rev forgived and gave more silver to him.  From this event, he decided to start new life as a not "Jean Valjean".  He bacame a new man, and respected with other people.  He is beneficent to the poor and the weak in his whole life.  There is another character of "Javert" who is a police.  He tried to find Jean Valjean.   Finally, Javert understood that Jean Valjean is not a just convict but a good man.  

From this movie, I was interested in the Javert's confusing part.  At first, Javert believe that he is justiceful and catching Jean Valjean is neccesary to build a justice society.  However, in the process of catching Jean Valjean, he confuse himself about what is right and what is wrong.  Lastly, he realize that he might be wrong, but he cannot accept it.  Therefore he suicide.  In this part, I think that we should always know that right thing which we believe can be wrong.  We try to open our ears.  Also, I think about the justice in the society, the convict's right to live like a nomal person.  Although they did really bad things before, they are human and they can change.  Moreover they finished their punishment.  However, people continue to hate them.  It can be the second "Jean Valjean".

One of my favorate places in Seoul

Did you know the K-pop song, "Gangnam Style"?  The Gangnam street is close to my hometown, so I spent lots of my time in there.  I graduate elementary, middle and high school near Gangnam street.  I had good memories about the place.  Therefore, I want to introduce some favorate places in Gangnam St..

1.  Kyobo Tower Book Store

    Kyobo Tower Book Store is one of the biggest book stores in Korea.  In there you can enjoy reading various books including new books.  Moreover, there are some cafes in the building, so you can enjoy the tea or coffee with books.  In Korea, Books are not expensive compare to the U.S..  You can buy books what you want with good price, too!  The picture below is the Koybo Tower, it designed by Mario Botta, one of the famous architure.  The striped columns are symbol of his art.

2.  Street Foods

    There are some street foods at Gangnam st. like a food truck.  When I was high school student, I really liked that foods! (In fact, I like it now.)  The representive street food is a DDukbokggi, which is made of rice cake, spicy sauce and sugar.  It is not healthy, but it tastes good.^^ And it is known that many girls favorate food.  In Austin, I sometimes make DDukbokggi at home when I miss the street foods. 

3.  Korean Restaurant, KangKangSulae

    The Korean Restaurant, KangKangSulae is one of my favorate restaurants.  My family usually went there on a special day.  The restaurant is famous for Korean royal court foods, but I recommend Korean BBQ which is a little different from nomal Korean BBQ.  It is kind of royal court style, and it is delicious. 

4.  SAMSUNG main building

    There are Samsung cop. main builings in Gangnam st..  You can see that the building is seldom turned off.  It seems that people in the builing always work until late night.  There are small mall under the building, you can experience Samsung products in there. 

Welome to my blog!

Hi~ friends.
I am so happy to meet you throgh the blog.  I think we can communicate better than before.
Actually, this is my first blog.  I decided to enjoy blogging.
Therefore, I am going to share lots of useful information in here.
Thank you.



My dog, Pi-Pi

This picture is my dog in Korea. 
I really miss her!! so I usually get my dog's pictures or videos from my mother.
Isn't she pretty?