Archive for Category: "south korea"
V-Day Jinju: Fun, Fundraisers, and Finding a Community
For the last few months, many of my friends and family at home have been worried about me. I live in South Korea, and Kim Jung-un’s threats even worried my most stoic family members. I keep telling them I’m not worried about North Korea; I’m worried about other things
South Korea’s Unjustly Infamous Ajumma
In South Korea, the ajumma (literally grandmother in Korean) or older woman is infamous among expats and locals alike. She is known for being aggressive, loud, and even mean. As one fellow expat commented, “Korean ajumma are like the grandmother who wants me dead.” I admit, I was taken aback when an ajumma pushed me in line
The Korean Beauty Myth
“Teacher look, she is beautiful!” uttered a student from an afternoon class, as she fawned over a Korean pop star on her cell phone. “Why?” “She has the important four!” She went on to explain that the woman on her cell phone screen had perfect eyes, mouth, nose, and face shape.
Making Pancakes in Korea
I woke up today feeling in conflict with the day I had planned. The fridge in my elementary school is stocked with groceries I purchased for Winter English Camp, since cooking days are now a regular part of my (made up) curriculum. Last week we made the candy cane cookies my mom and I used to make when I was young
Korean Medical Care in a Minute
I hand the slender, white-coated pharmacist a piece of printer paper. On it is a list of four drugs, which I haven’t bothered to read. By now I just tend to trust
