WWW (29)- Pyeongtaek

Brandon and I live in a smaller city surrounded by rice fields.  Although Korea is known to be 70% mountainous, these two hikers are placed right in the middle of Pyeongtaek (평택), a city known for its rice.  Now why’s that such a bad thing?  Well, to grow rice you need a bunch of flat fields, which is exactly what 평택 means.

Korean: 평

Korean Pronuncitation: P-yeong

English Meaning: Plain

Korean: 택

Korean Pronuncitation: taek

English Meaning: Field

Needless to say, there’s not a mountain in sight.

Brandon and me with the rice fields right outside our apartment (September 2010).

FFF (32)- 오월 Holidays

Koreans pack holidays into the month of May.  Perhaps they are trying to make-up for the lack of days off in the fall?  Whatever their reasoning, I’m digging it.  Although I don’t have any MAJOR plans for these days, I will certainly be relaxing in my PJs for at least a few of them.  So here are the vacation days for 오월:

Children’s Day- May 5^th

Parent’s Day- May 8^th

Buddha’s Birthday- May 10^th

Teacher’s Day- May 15^th

School’s Birthday- May 27^th

Unfortunately the whole common sense thing didn’t quite work its way into holidays.  Whereas most American holidays fall on a Monday (President’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc), ultimately making it a long weekend, Koreans fall on certain days, making them in the middle of the week sometimes.  And this year is one of those sometimes.  While Children’s Day is on 목요일 Buddha’s Birthday is on the following 화요일, meaning I work that Friday and Monday.  Cool Korea… A 4 day weekend would have been GREAT.  And a 6 day would have been even better!

Eh.  Oh well.  At least my school’s birthday falls on a 금요일 this year.  Lucky me.  I’m thinking about heading down to Busan that weekend!  And just to clarify, every school gets off on their “School Birthday” which is pretty self-explanatory.

WWW (28)- Months

Although I tend to think that a lot of Koreans lack common sense (if you lived here for a year you would probably agree), they also do some things that just make complete sense.  In Hangeul, the months are one of those things that just makes sense.  Since you learned the days of the week last week, we’re moving on to something that was much easier for me to learn (as it just makes sense).

Korean	Korean Pronunciation	English
일월	i-rwol	January
이월	i-wol	February
삼월	sam-wol	March
사월	sa-wol	April
오월	o-wol	May
유월	yoo-wol	June
칠월	chil-wol	July
팔월	p’al-wol	August
구월	goo-wol	September
시월	shi-wol	October
십일월	ship-i-rwol	November
십이월	ship-il-wol	December

If you haven’t caught on yet, 월 (wol) means month.  And if you remember from one of the first lessons, each month is a number +월.  For instance, January is 일 (il) + 월 (wol), directly translating to “one month”  and February is 이 (i) + 월(wol), translating as “two month”. The only “major” difference is that theㅂ is dropped in 10 (October). No biggie!  That was much easier than the days!

FFF (31)- 삼성전자 (Samsung Electronics)

While doing some research on Korean cell phones, I actually came across some really interesting information on Samsung Electronics (삼성전자), an electronics company based here in South Korea.  Multiple sources have noted that Samsung is the world’s largest electronics company (keep in mind that they don’t only make cell phones).

Other popular Samsung Electronics include televisions (including a 3D TV), computers (in fact my computer here at work is Samsung), digital cameras, DVD and Blue-ray players, and the list continues with much tinier things that I just can’t wrap my mind around.  Some things just never quite stick and with me, some of those things are most electronics.  Anyway, Samsung is really making its mark on the world, more so than I ever thought. 

It is number one in flat-panel TVs and memory chips and second in cell phones across the world.  And keep in mind, if your electronic doesn’t say 삼성on it, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a little bit of 삼성 inside it.  Many non-Samsung products have Samsung memory chips inside them.  Fancy that.

Every one of us is probably toting around a little bit Samsung in our pockets and purses.  If not you’ve probably have tons scattered around your home.  And again if not, I say you hop on that bandwagon, as I’ve become a huge supporter of the number one electronics company in the world.

Samsung in Yong-go and  Hangeul.

WWW (27)- Days of the Week

I’ve been trying to learn these for awhile, but my tongue always gets twisted and I just can’t quite do it.  So I’m teaching you to learn.  I quote I’ve seen often here in Korea is “When one teaches, two learn.”  This is all too true, this week especially.

I always tell my students, the more you write it, the more you’ll remember it.  So here I am, writing it out for you, trying to remember it for once.  

Korean	Korean Pronunciation	English
월요일	wawr yo il	Monday
화요일	hwa yo il	Tuesday
수요일	soo yo il	Wednesday
목요일	mok yo il	Thursday
금요일	kuhm yo il	Friday
토요일	yoe yo il	Saturday
일요일	il yo il	Sunday

FFF (30)- 한국어 핸드폰

From last week’s lesson, you’ll notice we’re talking “hand pones” today.  With the exception of my 5 year old, free of charge, pay as you go piece, all other Korean cell phones are da bomb diggity. 

Remember back in those ancient days when the iPhone and the Blackberry didn’t exist and people bought LG and Samsung phones?  Well those babies were Korean made.  Recall the days of The Chocolate and its amazing touch screen.  Yep, that was LG.  And I’ll put money on that fact that nearly all of you have owned a Samsung phone, as they are one of the leading producers of cell phones world wide.

All Korean 핸드폰 come equipped with games, an English-Korean and Korean-English dictionary, music players (iPods aren’t popular here), a “mirror”, a full subway map, including time till destination.  Some even have television applications.

Thank you ROKetship for capturing the words perfectly once again!

While Americans pack their pockets and purses with 3 different devices, each one for a single purpose, Koreans actually use their phones for everything that it’s worth.  Since iPods can be slightly expensive in Korea, Koreans rock out using their 핸드폰. 

When in Seoul, no need to stop an investigate how to get from Insadong to Wangshimni.  Who wants to use that much brain power after a long night of drinking?  With a click and another little click, you’re given the shortest route with a time until your destination.

Having a bad hair day?  Just be Korean and stare at yourself in your 핸드폰 for the next 10 minutes that it takes for you to fix it.  You’ll blend right in.  They LOVE this app- especially the high schoolers on their way to a boys’ soccer game.  Need to put on make-up? We’ve got an app. for that!

And they take their 핸드폰 games seriously.  Once I asked a Korean if she liked her newly purchased phone.  Her response- “Yes, mainly because I like the game on it.”

Although there is a shift towards touch screen 핸드폰, you’ll find that most Koreans actually still use old-school (if you’re American) flip phones.  A full key pad isn’t necessary to expedite texting.  The Korean character system is simple enough that you only need to click each button once, mayyybe twice, to get your desired character.  This makes it quite difficult for foreigners to text in English.  Needless to say- I miss my Crackberry.  But when in Korea- do as the Koreans do!

The most popular Korean cell phones. 

To end on a glamorous note, Koreans LOVE to decorate their phones- everything from stickers, to rhinestones, to dangling items.  Korean cell phones are flashy.

Korean cell phone dangles.  Loads and Loads of them.

Don't be surprised if your see full-sized stuffed animal dangles.

WWW (26)- Hello?

A Korean telephone conversation never fails to amaze me.  After the initial “Hello?” everything else translates as a grunt.  It’s really a wonder as to what they could actually be talking about through a series of grunts.  Especially on the buses (where talking on the phone is considered inconsiderate), a string of whispered grunts following “Hello?” is not uncommon.  So how do you say this one important word?

Korean: 여보세요?

Korean Pronunciation: Yo be sey yo?

English: Hello?

And of course when you want to end the conversation, you just give a casual grunt.

Today's lesson on telephone etiquette: 여보세요 and a few grunts will get you a long way.

FFF (29)- Konglish

The words from this week's WWW are what we like to call “Konglish”.

Defined by Wikipedia, “is the use of English words (or words derived from English words) in a Korean context. The words, having initially been taken from English language, are either actual English words in Korean context”.  You’ll notice that the first 5 words are actual English words.  The last five have originated as English words, but take on a whole new meaning in Korean.

파이팅 (Fighting) is actually a word of encouragement in Korean and far from a bloody fist fight.

핸드폰 (Hand phone) is not actually a hand + a phone.  Instead, it’s your cell phone.  Kind of clever!

볼펜 (Ball pen) is not a ball + a pen.  Where’s the fun in that?  Instead it originated from ball point pent (guess they didn’t like the point so much) and it just means pen.

화이트 (White) is not just a color.  In Korea, if someone says 화이트, they’re probably trying to fix a mistake- they need white out.

And when you’re 아이쇼핑, you’re not actually looking for a new set of eyes.  If you were, you would never actually buy them, as 아이쇼핑 actually refers to window shopping.

I’d have to say, overall, my favorite Konglish word must be 타이어 as it is technically one consonant followed by 3 vowels, since two of the sounds (“i” and “r”) don’t exist in the Korean language (for those more advanced, “r” exists, but only as the initial or middle sound, never the last sound, as it is in tire).  For more Konglish, visit this website.

WWW (25)- Konglish

For this week’s WWW we’re going to play a little game.  I’ll give you the Korean and you guess the English.  Since not everyone can read the Korean characters, I’ll provide the pronunciation with as best as I can match it (aka not using phonetics).  If you want to learn how to read Korean characters (which is actually really easy), use this website.  Hint: Say each one really fast.

1. Korean:  컴퓨터

Korean Pronunciation: Kawm pyoo taw

    

2. Korean:  커피

Korean Pronunciation: Kaw pe

3. Korean:  택시

Korean Pronunciation: Tahk she

4. Korean: 매니큐어

Korean Pronunciation: mah neh kyoo aw

5. Korean: 타이어

Korean Pronunciation: Ta e aw

6. Korean: 파이팅

Korean Pronunciation: pa e ting

7. Korean: 핸드폰

Korean Pronunciation: hahn duh pon

8. Korean:  볼펜

Korean Pronunciation: bol pehn

9. Korean: 화이트

Korean Pronunciation: hwa e tuh

10. Korean: 아이쇼핑

Korean Pronunciation: a e shyo ping

 Answers:

1. Computer
2. Coffee
3. Taxi
4. Manicure
5. Tire

6. Fighting!
7. Hand phone
8. Ball pen
9. White
10. Eye Shopping

Stay tuned for this week’s FFF for more on these Korean? Or are they English?  Words…

FFF (28) - April Showers Bring...

RADIATION?

I’m sure you’ve heard, as it is impossible to avoid, the Nuclear plants in Japan are leaking radiation.  And of course this is affecting Korea… and only if you’re Korean will you believe this.

Shortly following the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami, a random snow storm hit Korea whilst nearing the end of March.  Weird, right???  Well, two of my co-teachers separately decided to tell me that the snow is bringing the radiation, a “fact” I immediately refused to believe.  I mean geologically speaking, this just seems impossible. 

With Japan being located mainly east and slightly south of Korea I find it difficult to believe that cold weather was approaching from the Southwest.  What I find a little more reasonable would be winds hailing from Russia and China heading from the Northeast, the typical direction of Korean winds at this time of the year.  Hm…

So somehow with the snow brought radiation from Russia and China.  Chernobyl occurred 25 years ago, right?  Yeah, I don’t get it either.  But have no fear, the Koreans still overreacted, per usual.



FYI: Radiation Rain
immediately causes
death... watch out!



Well, I thought two mentions of the radiation in the snow was a little overreacting… until the rain came.  This week we had… (drum roll please)… RADIATION RAIN.  And God forbid you left your house without your umbrella.

That is, if you even left your house.  Some schools closed due to the… (drum roll)… radiation rain.

Don't forget your umbrella... you might get
scolded by your overprotective co-teacher!

I imagine that this is how it panned out- One Korean (probably a manufacturer of  우산 ) had the idea that the rains could possibly bring in some of the radiation from the leaks in the nuclear power plants, which led to 10 Koreans believing this, which led to many more Koreans quickly becoming aware of the fact, which led to a few hundred Koreans contacting their local government officials, which led to the government officials freaking out, which led to the option of school closures. 

Fine, put my life on the line multiple times during snow storms, but when the possibility of… (drum roll)… radiation rain occurs, keep me inside.   Sometimes I just don’t get it!!!!



Ironically, he's probably getting just as much radiation from
that device that never leaves his ear...



WWW (24)- Rain

More Korean drama!!!  And it all surrounds rain... Welcome to the month of April.

Korean: 비

Korean Pronunciation: pi  (like when you have to go to the bathroom)

English Meaning:  Rain

Korean: 우산

Korean Pronunciation: oo-san

English Meaning:  Umbrella

Jagged Ridge Hike

Traveling 남 to the tip of Korea this weekend, we’ll be spending our time hiking on another well-planned William Cho and Discover Korea trip.  Following an overnight bus ride, we’ll watch the sunrise over Admiral Lee Park, take a ferry to Sa Ryang Do and make our way from 동 to 서 through the jagged ridges of this island, hiking literally the whole island.  On the way home, we’ll stop by the Jinae Cherry Blossom festival, known exclusively for their, you guessed it, Cherry Blossom trees!

Now that was an abridged version of our travel itinerary, panned out by William Cho and company.  Also included in this itinerary was the mention of possibly wanting to purchase travel insurance.

April Fools, William?  If I had to make any suggestions about this trip, it’d be to purchase LIFE insurance, as I feared for my life hmm… one to many times.

After fighting for and securing the back of the bus, our group of 10 coziest right on in a passed out… well all of those equipped with some Benadryl (I should really start thinking about being a spokeswoman for Benadryl, huh?).  And all of those equipped with Benadryl also missed the sunrise over Admiral Lee Park.  Oops.  Gotta get those 8 hours.

For me, a sunrise is a sunrise.  But I will say that a Korean sunrise is somehow 10 times better than any American sunrise I’ve seen.  Don’t know why, but I’m always more impressed.  It works the same with sunsets too.  Although blessed by the always exquisite sunrise over the Land of the Morning Calm, I managed to spread out across 3 seats and sleep right through it.

Good thing for B and his new love of photography.

After crossing (bus and all) from the mainland to Sa Ryang Island, we began our “moderate hike including some difficult ridges that are avoidable using side trails. A trail that, if you exercise once or twice a week you should not find difficult.”

But this wasn’t just a hike.  I’d say it was more a combination of hiking and rock climbing.  Jagged Ridge was a much better explanation than the one above.  Although it started off as a stroll through rice paddies, it ended quite differently.

The original mention of 4 peaks, turned into SEVEN and that stroll turned into literally vertical up and down climbs, accompanied by a rope, if lucky.

So all said and done, I and my sore body might just have to disagree with you on that one, Will-iam Cho. “Moderate.”  Ha.

But in the company of 9 amusing friends, not only was this hike rock climbing bearable, but actually quite enjoyable.  With the weather warming up and surrounded by water, I was in a good place.

Alright, until the last peak… With each peak becoming increasingly steep, several of us opted to scoot around this vertical peak, determining that without proper equipment, this just actually wasn’t safe.  I did not purchase LIFE insurance, so I would not be tumbling down this mountain today.  Thanks.

And this is when we hit the mother load.  Dozens of Koreans.  Korean Hikers.  Intense just doesn’t quite do.  What more than intense?  Yes- crazy.  Beyond passionate.  Beyond determined.  And in this crazy state to get down the mountain they literally climbed OVER us.  I don’t know where they thought they were going because we were all stuck behind the ONE Korean in the whole entire country who (although decked out in hiking gear and looking professional) doesn’t know how to hike.

I don’t think a nice word came out of mine, Emily’s, or Ali’s mouth on that last descent.  A nice jjimjilbong (sauna) by our pension turned our frowns upside down.  As did the best galbi I’ve ever eaten.

This probably sounds like a jumble of complaints, but I must say, this was the best hike ever.  Perhaps it was the company or the accomplishment or the location.  Nope, it was definitely a combination of it all!  I can’t say I’d do it again, but I definitely enjoyed round 1.