DEVELOPING STORY: Korean Kampaign Kraze!

Hello folks, and thank you for joining us on the eve of a very significant event here in South Korea.  Once every four years it comes time for the citizens of this fine country to elect representatives to the Korean National Assembly.  Just as in the United States, commercials and signs endorsing this candidate or that have popped up with ever-increasing density since the campaign season kicked-off in March.  However, that is where the similarities end.  Korea has a multi-party system, and each party has its own assigned number and color, so it's easy to tell at a glance which party a candidate represents.  Just in case you are troubled by poor memory, the campaign teams have made provisions for you.  They have done this by practicing what I refer to as "Conquering the Corner."  The execution of this is exactly as the nickname suggests.  Mobs of party supporters occupy every corner of a strategically chosen intersection wearing the colors of their favored candidates.  Then they bring in a campaign truck booming K-Pop music as loud as it can and...well, you've really just got to see it...

So, here we have the Red #1s in front of a banner for Yellow #2

I caught up with the #1 candidate for awhile

That's when the Yellow #2 party truck came through

Somebody gave me this promotional card, even though I obviously cannot vote

Lying in wait for unsuspecting passersby

A show of respect to the constituency 

Pictured Above:  Conquering the Corner

So here we have Team Yellow marching across Team Red's Corner

Oh NO HE DIDN'T

Watch as it unfolds

Now, honestly, #3 is my favorite...I like the color scheme

There's that truck again!

I met up with my friend once more

Yes, tomorrows election has been the talk of every town in South Korea for the past few months.  In my classes it  has been no different.  The election talk is all the more entertaining when you consider that most Korean English Language Learners tend to mix up their Ls and Rs (Oooh, that was a PG-rated comment).  Anyway, I'm interested to see how tomorrow pans out.

Konglish, Volume 2

We have a few winners here, folks...

Bend low again night of summer stars

So near you are sky of summer stars

So near, a long-arm man can pick off stars

Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl

So near you are summer stars

So near, strumming, strumming

So lazy and hum, strumming

What happened in chapter. 1???

We serve specialty Gelato Ice Cream and Coffee café 

that is made of the central Italian style, 

with “Café Ti-amo” is beverage’s skills.  

Our coffee and Gelato Ice Cream taste is very smooth and componable.  

We serve that you enjoy the best fantastic 

“Gelato Ice Cream & Coffee flavor in the world”

When I flavor, it's always sincere

...but doesn't often succeed

How would you know?  You don't have any lips.

A Korean Cultural Tradition: The Jimjilbang

If there was one thing I said I would never do in Korea, it was go to a Jimjilbang.  The whole concept was alien to me and, honestly, I found the idea of it kinda freaky.  The word jimjilbang translates loosely as "heat room," and that's exactly what it is: an extremely hot and claustrophobia-inducing structure that has the feel and appearance of a giant oven.  Actually, it is an oven.  An oven for slow-cooking a human being...that is, if you don't have the sense to follow the suggested time limit of 15 minutes.  Attached to every proper jimjilbang is a sauna and bathhouse, and though they are gender-segregated, my Western-raised self was still kinda distressed at the idea.  Yup, you were never going to find me in one of those.

However, one must never underestimate the power of peer pressure. As you may have already figured, something must have given out because I have written this blog post.  It would be foolish for me to commentate on something with which I have absolutely no experience, so I am writing in all transparency to state simply that I not only went to a jimjilbang, but I have become an all-out fan.  Allow me to explain why:

Going to a jimjilbang is like entering another world, completely separated from the stressful hustle and bustle of everyday life.  When first you enter, you take off your shoes and put them in their own little locker for safekeeping.  You won't need them again until you leave.  You are given a set of small towels, a locker key you can wear around your wrist or ankle, and a comfy uniform to wear.  This is when you tell the members of your group that are of the opposite gender what time you will meet again, and you enter the locker room.

You will find no photos of this part of the experience, for obvious reasons.  After you find your locker and unload all your belongings, you make your way over to the sauna and baths.  Depending on the individual jimjilbang, you may find multiple hot tubs at various temperatures, a cold pool, massaging jacuzzi jets, dry and wet saunas, and various "event baths" containing water treated with such things as green tea, herbs, charcoal, or flower extracts.  Sometimes the baths contain saltwater, sometimes they have purified or spring water.  I remember being so excited when a friend of mine invited me to use their hot tub in the past, imagine my excitement when I have as many as ten different variations to choose from!

Anyway, after getting yourself thoroughly washed and soaked, you go put on your fancy jimil garb and rejoin your friends in the common area.  Now there can be photos.

The jimjilbangs themselves

Another lovely jimjilbang; temperature reads 79 degrees Celsius!

A row of delightful massage chairs

Although it may seem strange, spending some time relaxing in a jimjilbang and sweating can be an extremely refreshing experience!  Gets your blood circulating, and, especially in winter, it's just really cozy.  Whole families can be seen lounging around on bamboo or plastic mats in the common area, snacking, talking, reading, or just spending time together.  Often, people are just zonked out on the floor all over the place, getting their beauty sleep.  It doesn't matter what time you go, most jimjilbangs are open 24 hours a day, which means it's perfect for when you need a place to stay the night!  The best part about that is that the cost ranges from 6,000 won to 15,000 won, so it never costs you more that $14 to secure accommodations wherever you are in Korea.

My friends were kind enough to model the provided outfits

Stylin'

Inside a heated salt room

The obligatory snack bar, well-stocked with ramyeon, baked eggs, and sikhye (sweet rice punch)

It is helpful to know a little about a jimjilbang before you decide to patronize it, because the quality and cleanliness of the places sometimes vary.  What I find most important are the sleeping arrangements.  Some places offer bunk beds in quiet sleeping rooms, while others have you sleeping on the hard floor with only a small cushion for your head.

This one offers your own personal cave!

This was home, sweet home for a day :)

This one had a comfortable mat on the floor, and provided two blankets!

If you need to use a computer or play an arcade game, they've got that covered, too!

Other services provided by many jimjilbangs include massages, hair treatments, pedicures, and manicures.  These usually cost extra, but are reasonably priced.  It's the ultimate spa experience on a budget!  If you're a courageous soul with a penchant for new cultural experiences, be sure to add visiting a jimjilbang to your bucket list!

Korea's Love Affair With Giraffes

*The following post is dedicated to Jan Garcia

For some strange reason, I have discovered that the people of Korea seem to adore giraffes.  It's not like they have many around.  Giraffes are certainly not indigenous to this country or even to this continent, yet you will see them in every city and village, plastered onto shirts, backpacks, and hats, painted on buildings and vehicles, and in other more bizarre and unlikely places.  Here are just a few of my recent giraffe sightings...enjoy!

Because that's what Giraffes do

I came so close to buying this...

Yes.  This is what you think it is. 

Interesting concept.

Awwww

Comes in natural and unnatural colors.

A student of mine, with her friend

"What the..." or "Odd Things You May Find Should You Ever Explore in Korea"

I have definitely covered some ground in the almost five months I have been living in South Korea.  I have become very comfortable here, and really feel like I'm getting the hang of things in another culture.  However, any time I start to feel a little too much at ease, I come across something that reminds me that "I'm not in Kansas anymore."  Some examples:

Now you can see how your spectacles will look on all your different facial expressions!

That guy in the yellow...he's a bit taller than most

The creepiest thing is that they actually can walk around...

 Ok!  I believe you!

 This I just don't get...

Korean food has made me so strong, I can lift the front of a car (with a little help)

A clever way to solve a problem.

These things are hard to explain, but they were fun! (See video below)

Kinda trippy...

On my way home one evening, in the middle of the city, next to a convenience store.

This is actually right smack-dab in the middle of an amusement park.

Lunar New Year in Dynamic Busan

새 해 복 많이 받으세요! (sae hae bok manhi badusaeyo)  This phrase translates as "Have a Happy New Year" in Korean.  This past Monday was Lunar New Year, the biggest holiday in South Korea.  Traditionally, it is a day when South Korean families get together to eat, exchange gifts, and honor their ancestors.  More recently, some families have started using the long weekend as an opportunity to do some traveling in and around the country.  I followed the latter trend this particular weekend, and hopped a bus for an anticipated three-and-a-half-hour ride to the coastal city of Busan.


Some Korean natives with whom I spoke advised against attempting to travel during the Lunar New Year, as the traffic would be so horrendously bad it would take me at least twice as long as it usually would to get anywhere. The older and wiser ajummas and ajusis that populate my religion class, however, told me not to worry.  According to them, I should have little to no trouble going wherever I felt like going.  As I would soon discover, they were right!

Our little traveling group made it to Busan in a record time of only three hours.  One member of the group used to teach in Busan, and so he had some Korean friends happy to meet us and help us navigate around the city.  Our first stop was dinner at the Loving Hut, a world-wide vegan food restaurant chain.  This is actually my third time eating at one of the branches.  My first experience with the Loving Hut was in Chicago, and then I tried it in Sinchon, South Korea.  One of the things I like about the restaurant is that no two menus are ever the same, and the Busan location was no exception.  I ordered the vegan cutlet along with some passion fruit soda and boiled vegetable dumplings.  Delicious! 


After dinner we made our way to Gwangalli beach, which has a beautiful nighttime view of the Gwangan Bridge, the second-longest bridge in the country.  We wondered along the cool and breezy beach front, just admiring the sights.  

Out of the darkness an old woman walked up to us and offered to sell us some small fireworks for 2000 won.  I decided to take her up on the offer, and she even took it upon herself to light it for us.  I held it away from my body as little mortars puffed their way out of the tube and into the night sky with sparkling flowery bursts.  We oohed and awed as we pondered the legality of the activity.

Our fireworks fun ended, we continued on the shore.  In the distance I could recognize some amusement rides, and someone informed me there was indeed a small theme park nearby.  We decided to go check it out.  Hidden somewhere between a swinging viking ship and some bumper cars there was a fun-looking ride I had never encountered before.  It had a very simple name, disc-something-or-other, and when I figured out the concept, I knew I had to give it a try.  Basically, everyone sits in a circle in a padded ring sans seat belts or any other safety gear.  The disc spins around speedily until the operator develops a deranged sense of humor and begins teasing and roasting the passengers.  The disc begins to bounce erratically, and riders try desperately to keep their seats as onlookers laugh heartily at their plight.  I know, sounds like some sort of torture instrument, right?  

Pretty much.

By the time the ride was over, my arms were throbbing from holding on so tightly.  I was shaken up and physically spent, but I felt a great sense of accomplishment that I never tumbled to the floor even once during the entire ride. I will definitely be doing this again, but maybe after I recover a little from the soreness.


Since this was a very low-budget trip, hotels and motels were mostly out of the question as accommodation.  Korea is, however, the land of the low-budget traveler.  Therefore, we spent both nights of our trip in jimjilbangs (more details on what those are in a later post), for a grand total of 20,000 won (less than $20) each.  The first night's jimjilbang had a perfect view of the beach out of gigantic picture windows and boasted salt water bathing pools.  The second was not quite so charming, but it was also the less expensive of the two.


Our second day in Busan turned out to be an eight-hour long walking tour from Gwangalli to Haeundae beach.  Along the way we took in many of the sights, including...

How far from home?

The site of an historic meeting...Google it

Represent!

Overall, it was a marvelous trip.  I will definitely be returning to Busan during the summer season :)