Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Speaking The Language
One of the most common questions people back home ask me is whether or not I know the Korean language. I don't yet, not really. I do know some basic phrases, and my pronunciation is apparently rather impressive for a beginner. That's thanks to some Korean friends back home, who were enormously helpful teachers. I'm looking forward to seeing one of them again next month when she returns to Seoul. But despite the help, I can't say much beyond "yes/no," "hello/goodbye," "hurry!," "please/thanks/sorry," "may I have...?," "do you have...?," "how much does it cost?," "can you cut the price?," and some basic vocabulary. However, even this much is helpful if you want to be able to, for example, ask for more water in a restaurant--or a fork, for those dishes that are too hard to eat with chopsticks!
I can sort of read Hangul, and that's enormously helpful. Here's an anecdotal example. Until recently, I stayed in a motel. There was a dispenser on the wall in the bathroom, which dispensed three liquids. The first, reading phonetically, sounded like "sham-pu;" the second was "rin-see;" and the third was more or less "cleanser" (the sounds are difficult to replicate in English with the Roman alphabet). So I figured out which one to use to wash my hair. Obviously, knowing how to read isn't going to help you if the Korean words are completely foreign to you, but it does help from time to time. And, at least in my case, it's hard not to desire to learn more.
I can sort of read Hangul, and that's enormously helpful. Here's an anecdotal example. Until recently, I stayed in a motel. There was a dispenser on the wall in the bathroom, which dispensed three liquids. The first, reading phonetically, sounded like "sham-pu;" the second was "rin-see;" and the third was more or less "cleanser" (the sounds are difficult to replicate in English with the Roman alphabet). So I figured out which one to use to wash my hair. Obviously, knowing how to read isn't going to help you if the Korean words are completely foreign to you, but it does help from time to time. And, at least in my case, it's hard not to desire to learn more.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
In The Jungle
There are, of course, a great many differences you notice upon arrival in Seoul, regardless of where you're from. Some are more acute than others. The sum of their effects, though, is to create an entirely unique experience for the first-timer. It's difficult to contain in words the sense of wonderment I felt immediately upon my arrival in Gangnam. It's another world I stepped into.
But first things first. If you're reading this, likely you have no idea what I mean when I refer to Gangnam. So right there, I think, is the best place to start. Seoul is massive. I mean really, really, really massive. It's one of the largest cities in the world by population. If you consider the entire Seoul National Capital Area, including Incheon, which is where the airport is, it's the second most populous metro area in the world, behind only Tokyo. But it's more densely populated than Tokyo.
Seoul is divided into districts. You can think of these as neighborhoods if you like, though the term "neighborhood" seems ill-suited--too rural--to describe them. Gangnam is one of these districts, and it's probably the busiest. Traffic jams are the norm. So perhaps it shouldn't be surprising to see cab drivers run red lights, or to see motorcycle riders weave through the gridlock, sometimes into oncoming lanes. Still, it surprised me.
In addition to its people, Gangnam is also home to a great deal of wealth. You can see evidence of this when you walk down the street. During the day and in the evening, walking on the sidewalk requires more than a little concentration in order to weave in and around the crowd of people, all dressed immaculately, stylishly, and with surprising individuality. No doubt many work in the corporate headquarters of multinational corporations, like Samsung, located in Gangnam.
The people, of course, are all Korean. Multiculturalism is an idea barely worth thinking about here. White people stick out; Black people don't exist. Appearances matter to Koreans, and it shows. Cosmetics stores are everywhere, outnumbered only, perhaps, by restaurants and clothes boutiques. Food and clothes are cheap by Western standards, even in Gangnam, but it's hard not to notice that at least some of the fabrics Koreans wear aren't up to Western standards. And the food is cheaper in Gangnam only if you eat Korean food. Thankfully, I enjoy the food--maybe more than Western food!--but I'm not a picky eater. Many people are. If they don't think they are before they arrive, they quickly realize afterward.
Skyscrapers are everywhere. Chain stores are ubiquitous. For example, I work at a YBM adult language school. There are four of these within a few city blocks of each other. There's one across the street from where I work. This sort of thing is not at all unique. You'll commonly see two of the same stores at once. It's amusing, although it can make navigation difficult; the streets of Gangnam are familiar even if you've walked down only a few of them. Right now, for me, there's nothing more exciting than walking down more and more of them.
But first things first. If you're reading this, likely you have no idea what I mean when I refer to Gangnam. So right there, I think, is the best place to start. Seoul is massive. I mean really, really, really massive. It's one of the largest cities in the world by population. If you consider the entire Seoul National Capital Area, including Incheon, which is where the airport is, it's the second most populous metro area in the world, behind only Tokyo. But it's more densely populated than Tokyo.
Seoul is divided into districts. You can think of these as neighborhoods if you like, though the term "neighborhood" seems ill-suited--too rural--to describe them. Gangnam is one of these districts, and it's probably the busiest. Traffic jams are the norm. So perhaps it shouldn't be surprising to see cab drivers run red lights, or to see motorcycle riders weave through the gridlock, sometimes into oncoming lanes. Still, it surprised me.
In addition to its people, Gangnam is also home to a great deal of wealth. You can see evidence of this when you walk down the street. During the day and in the evening, walking on the sidewalk requires more than a little concentration in order to weave in and around the crowd of people, all dressed immaculately, stylishly, and with surprising individuality. No doubt many work in the corporate headquarters of multinational corporations, like Samsung, located in Gangnam.
The people, of course, are all Korean. Multiculturalism is an idea barely worth thinking about here. White people stick out; Black people don't exist. Appearances matter to Koreans, and it shows. Cosmetics stores are everywhere, outnumbered only, perhaps, by restaurants and clothes boutiques. Food and clothes are cheap by Western standards, even in Gangnam, but it's hard not to notice that at least some of the fabrics Koreans wear aren't up to Western standards. And the food is cheaper in Gangnam only if you eat Korean food. Thankfully, I enjoy the food--maybe more than Western food!--but I'm not a picky eater. Many people are. If they don't think they are before they arrive, they quickly realize afterward.
Skyscrapers are everywhere. Chain stores are ubiquitous. For example, I work at a YBM adult language school. There are four of these within a few city blocks of each other. There's one across the street from where I work. This sort of thing is not at all unique. You'll commonly see two of the same stores at once. It's amusing, although it can make navigation difficult; the streets of Gangnam are familiar even if you've walked down only a few of them. Right now, for me, there's nothing more exciting than walking down more and more of them.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Briefing
I'm in Seoul, safely. Photos, more extensive updates, and phone calls home will follow once things settle down a bit.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Lexis Nexus
Free Rice is a neat way to build your vocabulary and do some good at the same time. My vocabulary level, in case you're curious, has gone as high as 44, but most of the time I hover around 39-40.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Weekend Update
For reasons that continue to elude me, I've retained readers. So, for those of you who've stuck with me, here's an update: I'm off to Seoul in mid-late October. I should have a specific departure date Real Soon Now. I'm confident about the job--the whole situation, really--I'm heading to. Notwithstanding my confidence, though, I'm starting to realize that I'll miss Saskatoon and its people. Still, my excitement more than balances out my anxiety.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
