Listeners Unite! direct link p.1 p.2 I want to take some time out from writing to share with you part one of a four part part series of Korean Stuff in Texas. These videos are to highlight four places in Texas where you can expect something Korean-related. I should mention that these videos are from my own personal opinions and viewpoints. Having said that, I hope that if you living or visiting any of these cities, you find the videos helpful. Okay, let's talk about Denton. It's located north of Dallas. It's the home of two universities: UNT and TWU. Although UNT currently doesn't have any formal Korean language classes, it does have a whole mess of other language classes. Including one for non-native speakers. It's an... Show more

South Korean money. Who doesn't like a little green in their wallets? How about some yellow? Yeah, some cold. hard. yellow. That's what the inside of Korean wallets will look like come late June. Plenty of people are happy about this. Of course, some were concerned over the choice of the historical figure that will appear on the face on the bill. Yet, no one seems to mind these bills... A 100 000 원 bill was almost approved, too (to replace those goofy "money order" notes). I guess it was too much to ask, right? Hey I'm not complaining, though. I'm happy that we have the 50 000 원 bill  at least. Before that, the largest bill commonly available was the 10 000 원. Not exactly convenient in large quantities. Yet the 10 000... Show more

Friendship. Man I'm getting deep. Friendship is no joke with Koreans. Actually, that brings up a good point. Take a moment and analyze what the term means to you. Seriously. What is a friend to you? Someone you can tell everything? Someone you can spend time with? Someone you can drink with? Someone you love? Even the term '친구' has different connotations in Korean. It involves so much more than just a smile and a commonality. Friendship takes a commitment. Friendship takes regular upkeep. Friendship is hardcore. But first let's take a look at friendship in an American context. In the English language, the term "friend" is used quite lightly. I'm meeting some friends for lunch can mean any number of things. You're a good friend... Show more

외기러기. Lonely goose fathers. (part one can be located here) So we've already covered the topic of the students who go overseas but what about the families left behind? First and foremost, like the first discussion, this topic is quite broad and includes any number of scenarios. Also, the situation differs when the student studies abroad by themselves versus coming over with a family member or two. Having said that, here's a oft linked piece from the New York Times that introduces the topic nicely. It's warm and fuzzy. High temperature fuzziness aside, we typically think of the father left in Korea while the mother and children study abroad (if thinking about school-aged 유학생). These fathers continue to work in Korea while sending... Show more

유학하다. Studying Abroad. (Part one of two) Where to begin? It's a detailed subject with more asterisks and mixed emotions than I care to write about. I leave it up to the professionals. What I am curious about is the sheer number of 유학생 and how the number is growing each year. And if you thought that this is a recent trend, think again. As you can imagine, the culture shock that ensues is pretty much on par with any weapon of mass destruction. I can think of few other cultures more polar opposite than America and Korea. When the students arrive in their new home, there's a developmental term that comes to mind: goodness of fit. Think of it. If a student always dreamed of a life of independence, self-reliance, individualism, and... Show more