Who's Telling The Truth? In Korea...Who Knows??

Before I get started I just wanna say one thing. This picture ROCKS!!

Members of the Korean Grandma Taekwondo Federation including Ji Bok-yeon, leader of the group (center), getting ready for battle at their gym in Buypeong, Gyeonggi province.

I think I’ve heard it all now. I really have. For years, I’ve heard my Korean students, both adult and children tell me some fairly strange “facts” bout Korean history and culture. It all began with my Korean coworkers telling me to never sleep with an electric fan running in my room. A running fan combined with closed windows can kill people. This urban legend is a purely Korean one and is known as “Fan Death.” Yes, ridiculous as that sounds, there were other bizarre claims that many students seemed to make. Once, a group of students told me that Orville and Wilbur Wright didn’t fly the first airplane...it was a lie!!! They (and in a very brainwashed sort of way) absolutely told me that the first airplane was invented in Korea! I asked them who taught them this twisted fact and they said it was their teacher at school.

The Wright Brothers...were they just big fat liars? I don't think so, but my students may disagree!

I realize that Koreans are more than a little Nationalist; to the point where they tend to burn all bridges with both neighbors and allies alike. There has been a school textbook war between Korea, China and Japan for quite some time. The three countries are constantly accusing the other of revising and fabricating history. I’ve been following these ongoing battles in a few Korean dailies for some time now. I shook my head once again when I read a story in the Chosun Ilbo titled, “Chinese Paper Slams 'Absurd' Korean History Books.” What left me shaking my head once again at the common practice of teaching propaganda in the local schools was a new claim in Korean high school history books. New Korean textbooks claim that paper was invented in Korea! That’s right; PAPER!! So much for the Egyptians! I suppose that after a few years living here, I should be used to these types of claims, but I still always find them jaw-dropping.

You hear all sorts of interesting things when you stand infront of a class of Korean students day in and day out!

3 Thousand of Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that's the case, here are 3 thousand!

The 2 pictures above were drawn by the same student,. I apparently look like HELL these days! I love them...he's quite a little artist, capturing Kevin's true essence!

Took this picture at an outdoor food market in Busan. A place called Nampo-dong. Pretty cool I think. I'm not sure what one does once they've purchased a pig head. Do you just run around chasing children and old women? Scary the living daylights out of them?

Korean Wellbeing Consumer Index and Kevin

Will I ever make it to this list? Dare to dream!

It’s been a long time and here I am….simply put…Kevin’s back. More than a month after my last post I have decided to tantalize the world with my antics and zany ways. For those who have been checking my blog over the last month, I'm sorry and please don't attack me with wet noodles...I promise to write regularly now!

Today is the beginning of the end so to speak. I started my final term teaching at CDI and my last term in Korea. On May 26th, I teach for my last day and shortly there after will be on my way to other exotic locales…i.e. Japan then Canada. There seems to be an extra kick in my stride and gleam in my eye, knowing that the end is approaching. I’ve had my great times and not so great times on the peninsula, but 5 years is a long time and I’m ready and raring to get back to Canada and university.

So….what’s new with me here on this side of the world? I’m glad you asked! I celebrated the Lunar New Year (Year off the Golden Pig), by eating one of the little porkers. I was in Gyeongju for the weekend with Mai. We stayed in the luxury of the Gyeongju Hilton Hotel…sweet digs. The Hermit Kings made their triumphant return to the stage at Ol’55 last Saturday. It was nice to be behind the drums for an entire show. It can be tough being a drummer though when you need to go to the bathroom halfway through a set!!!!!! Not fun! We may be rippin it up at U2 in Haeundae this Saturday night…maybe…not sure yet.

I have acquired a new toy. I bought a Sony Handycam, so once my laptop is healthier, I must begin “youtubing” it with a little more style!

Oh yeah...I was surfing around and reading one of Korea's most circulated papers, the Chosun Ilbo and found an interesting and disturbing story about "Ugly Koreans." Then I saw another one about those who want to become "beautiful."