North Korea propaganda

During war and other major times in history, there is always propaganda and common public opinion.  I'm sure you all heard the joke by now that North Korean soldiers invaded through the DMZ, got to Seoul, then dropped their guns as they attacked the grocery stores for food.  

Here are a few more jokes that have been all over facebook.  I've seen them many times with many amusing (though very unChristian) comments accompanying the.

These are just a few of the jokes going around.  There are plenty more that are less funny but possibly more true to the attitudes over here.  The North Koreans are desperate.  More people than normal died this past year from drought.  So they are truly taking out their negative feelings most inappropriately.

Anyrate, about to head to bed.  Good night all.  Be back online in 12 hours or less.  

North Korea Stress Relief

Advice from students about North Korea:

"Oh teacher, teacher, teacher, they are only playing."

"They do it ever month, nothing ever happens, it is just a joke, a big joke."

Response to this:

Exactly....nothing to see here..move along.....if the world ignored them...they would stop it

smile and wave boys, just smile and wave

*******


"What? I don't want to worry about them being in dry cleaning if I need to pack to be evacuated." ... yeah... dry cleaning... wouldn't want to waste my ten bucks.

((A friend and I were fooling around... don't take this seriously.))

North Korea

Yes, I put my hair up into a messy bun.  I look scarily more professional that way.

Good morning one and all.  I have been faced with the question of why I don't talk about North Korea and how they are affecting lives in my blog.  After all I am in South Korea, so shouldn't I be writing about my life here and how such a momentous threat affects life here?  The simple answer to that, my friends, is it simply doesn't change anything.  At least not for the Koreans.

There is one change that took the amusement out of the situation.  The economy is fluctuating because one man is threatening war.  The exchange rate that us expats watch so closely is horrible right now.  Normally we hope for a 91 or 92.  I was lucky back in January and wired money home when it was at a 93.  As of yesterday evening it was at 88.  That is low.  So the foreigners living in South Korea are less than pleased.

We are definitely not the only ones.  Japan and China are experiencing the same problems.  Their economies are experiencing instability on the world market due to North Korea's rhetoric war.  Something that China will not take lightly.  You do not hurt allies.

That said, life here is normal.  We go to school and work like always, worry about the weather and which students in our lives are doing what for studying.  Plan lessons that we think will get the students' attention and adjust when they don't work the way we had hoped.  I'm going into town tonight to pick up dry cleaning, and most likely won't be back in town again the rest of the week.  Life is just normal.

If that changes, I will gladly post it here.  This blog is to reveal life as I learn it here in South Korea.  Those of you who have facebook with me can panic if I am not online for a day or two.  The rest of you, don't stress. I would feel horrible if I knew that I was the cause of stress for you.  The prayers have been welcome by the way.  Just don't be overly worried.  Everything is okay here.  God's got my back ;)

Coffee and Blossoms

Good morning!  *said with false enthusiasm*  I apologize for the not so awake smile I attempted.  It was the best I could do.  Yes, there is coffee sitting in front of me.  No I haven't had any yet.  It's too hot and would scald my mouth if I tried.  Just not a morning person.

Anyrate, wanted to write up another blog and say hi.  It was such a sad weekend.  It rained and all the cherry blossoms in Daegu fell off in the storm.  There went my photo opportunities I had planned for Saturday afternoon.  Now notice that I said in Daegu.  Here is where I am evilly happy at the misfortune of others.  You see, the school still has it's cherry blossoms.  That's right!  It pays to be in a slightly cooler place.  Ours started blooming a day or two later, so were strong enough to not fall off the tree in the storm.

So while all the other Koreans who are not attending this school cry over not being able to enjoy cherry blossoms anymore this year, I am gleefully (and sleepy) thinking to myself, "mwuahahahaha."  Okay, not quite to that extent.  My humor is off this morning too.  I apologize.

Anyrate, not much else happening around here beyond the sadness at the loss of the flowers.  The students even forgot about their homework in their excitement to see, then disappointment in not seeing, the cherry blossoms this weekend.  Thank you rain storm.  The one time I don't want rain, how rare is that?

Security Message from the Embassy

Just got an email from the embassy. Not the regular one, but a special security email. It says the following:

"The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time. The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea. Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information. "

Fast but Late

Something about being in Korea is their attitude about time.  They will rush around like ants if something needs to be done quickly, they are late, or someone is waiting for them.  Things can be done fast in this way. For example, counting out change takes too long, so many professional place (mostly banks though) have machines to count it out since it is faster.  However, despite their quick speeds, they are almost always late by 15 minutes.  It is inevitable.  When they have free time, they take life slow and easy.  Walking downtown is so frustrating because most people are walking slower than me.

Then I get a change of view.  We have two new teachers from the states.  Adjusting to our new American coworkers has been a lot of fun and I am so glad they are both here.  However, they are not Koreans nor been here long enough to be Koreanized to this place.  So I get to see the differences between them and the rest of us.  They are definitely more relaxed, and dare I say, more practical?  For example, one of them became sick over the weekend.  The other couldn't understand why I would wait two hours until the end of the parents' ceremony when we couldn't understand what was being said instead of rushing right away to help the sick one get meds from my apartment.

Americans tend to do things at their own pace.  In a more timely manner instead of having those quick speeds that occur when you are out of time.  Also, Americans tend to be more on time.  It is expected of us and we follow through.  An adjustment I have had to get used to is when it is time for something, people not jumping and doing it then, but in a few minutes when they finished whatever thought or action they were already doing.

Was talking to a US soldier who has been here for 5 years.  He has been in the US maybe two months since arriving here, and none of that in the last 3 years.  I remember the culture shock and just the difference in communicating I experienced when I visited the US after a year.  He must adjust to the culture shock as well as becoming a civilian.  Will be an interesting experience and I hope that he is happy when all is said and done.

I feel that this blog might be me rambling.  If that is so, I apologize.

Gift Giving

In Korea, it is customary when you have a child, buy a car, have a close family member die, or another similar large occasion to buy gifts for everyone at work.  One of the teachers at school had her father die.  Out of appreciation for all the teachers who came to the funeral, she bought gift sets with various rice cakes inside for everyone.