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Sixth Day, The Last

I have so much to tell my colleagues and share with them when I get back. We received some more great information about Korean students today, and why the come to America in almost unprecented numbers. Being able to speak English is the only way to be hired by a large Korean company like LG or Samsung. These companies are in international business, and the common trade language in East Asia in now English, not Chinese. If a child can get a good American education, they can pass the English test required by these companies and be assured a steady, high-paying job.

On the cultural side of things, we had a Tae kwon do lesson. The leader of the martial arts group was handsome like a Korean soap opera actor. He gave us a short self-defense lesson and then when got to break boards. I broke one with a side kick and one with my fist; students beware!

To continue with the yin and the yang, we had a tea ceremony demonstration right after the martial arts exhibition.

But the best part of the seminar, hanging out with all the pretty Korean ladies. Below is me with Helie Lee, author of Still Life with Rice, our co-host, and one of the founding memebers of KAFE.

This has been one of the best seminars I have ever been to. I learned so much, I was treated so well, and I was given so many materials. First class all the way. Thank you KAFE, and thank you Mary Connor for allowing me to come.

Fifth Day

Dear Reader,

I will make my post brief tonight because it has been a long day. I just got back from the Korean Cultural Center where we had Korean food, again, and watched the Korean movie "A Long Way Home." I will not issue any spoilers other than to say that, once again, Choco-Pies were an important plot element.

Today was art day. We learned about classical Korean arts, and I have some interesting information and lesson plans for our art teacher. We also veiwed an exhibit of Korean folk art and met some of the artist, one of whom is the living master of the genre.

I learned some interesting things about Koreans who come to school in America, which I will save for my full presentation next week. We also had Korean snack time Shirmp crackers and rice punch, yum yum.

Finally, here is something for Matt Irvin. Right across the street from the KCC is Whimsical Alley, a Harry Potter themed store. You can buy an entire Hogwarts' school uniform from the house of your choice, probably for about $300-400. They also have wands, posters, and about anything else Harry Potter that is made.

Fourth Day

Today, we began with a long discussion about North Korea. Is it really a threat? Will the Koreas every be unifed? Dr. David Kang, the specialist on North Korea at USC and the guy the news media always calls when they have a question about the Hermit Kingdom, says that the issue is very complicated. The North Korean regime is on its third leader from the same family, but it is a Confucian dictatorship. The people's loyalty is to their leader and the "father" of their country Kim Il Sung. They revere him so much and believe that his son and grandson were and are legitimate rulers as well. The Confucian values of the North Korean people make loyalty to their leader their number one priority. And since they are united against a common enemy, the U.S., they have a cause that keeps them patriotic and xenophobic.

The regime's story is this:

1.      We are the true Koreans.

2.      We are protecting you from the west and Japan.

3.      If that requires sacrifice, it is a price we will pay.

The Koreas maybe united one day, but according to Dr. Kang, it will be very expensive for the South Koreans, because they will have to support the North and bring up their standard of living. And, the best way to topple the regime is to show them that capitalism and its economic benefits are the way to go. In other words, there will be no Arab Spring in North Korea.

There is hope though. Check out this article about the "Choco Pie Effect":

http://blog.keia.org/2011/11/north-korea%E2%80%99s-choco-pie-economy/

On the lighter side, for lunch we went to a Korean restaurant and had rice-stuffed roasted chicken in ginger/garlic broth. Yum, yum! Korean comfort food.

After lunch, we went to the local Buddhist temple and were lead in chants and meditation by The Venerable Jongmae Park. I hope I win his book about Buddhism in the drawing tomorrow. He has a Dalai Lama vibe to him. He is a peaceful man who has compassion for others and a wicked sense of humor. He suggested that a good time to meditate is while you are sitting on the toilet in the morning.

After learning that desire causes suffering, we journeyed to the Korean shopping mall. It was like any other mall except it had a Korean food court and a Korean grocery. I will try to bring some goodies back to share.

Tonight, my friend Manuel is taking me to authentic southern Mexican food. A rare treat he tells me. This good, I like Korean food, but it is time for a change.

Third Day

So much to process today. I do not know where to begin. So I will just throw out this little tid bit about the Confucian rules for marriage. One of the seven reasons I man can divorce his wife is for talkativeness.

This morning, we had a lecture by the Venerable Jongmae Park about the different religions in Korea. He is a Zen Buddhist bishop who teaches at Loyola Marymount, and he will be our guide at the Buddhist temple tomorrow.

Shamanism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity have been fighting it out in Korea for centuries. Currently, South Korea is 50% Christian. There are more Protestants than Catholics, but more are converting to Catholicism every year because as a traditional country, Koreans like the tradition and ceremony of the Catholic Church.

The Venerable Park also confirmed my theory of why Korea is the most Christian east Asian country. Korea suffered great losses and poverty during the 20th century so a gospel of hope appealed to them. Also, Christian missionaries helped to rebuild their country after the war, and Koreans associate western Christianity with prosperity.

This lecture was followed by a brief lecture on the role of women in Korean society. They have more equality than just 30 years ago, but traditional Confucian values are hard to overcome.

We also had a brief introduction to the idea of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. This is the rise in populatiry of Koean Pop Culture. Look out for Girls Generation, a teenager will be dancing to them near you one day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbwL8kSpEk&list=ALHTd1VmZQRNowvLpZPWHE4tXx-5_bZfOR&index=1&feature=plcp


For lunch, I got to "roll my own":

Then we viewed clips of famous Korean movies. I will tell you about those later. And, we learned about a type of Korean poetry called Sijo. There is a national contest for these poems, and I am definitely making my students enter.

Finally, we toured the Korean art wing of LACMA (LA County Museum of Art), which has the distinction fo being right next door to the Lebrea Tar Pits.

Ah, the juxtaposition!

Second Day

Time to get down to serious study. We had a morning lecture from a very dynmaic speaker, Dr. David Kang of USC. Why does Korea matter to America? An interesting question with many answers. South Korea is the 13th largest economy in the world. We are still fighing the cold war there with about 30,000 American troops stationed near the DMZ, including our own graduate Dan Hall. Plus, more and more Koreans are coming to America every year. Korean Americans have the

highest percentage of small business of any group in US.  Hyundai is the largest ship builder in the world. The list could go on and on. I will share more fun facts when I get back to school.

Anyway, our sessions will take place at the Korean Culture Center:

Did you know they were hosting the 2018 winter Olympics? Me neither.

We had a Korean "sampler" lunch. The kimchi was a little too spicy today, but the tempura and short ribs hit the spot.

Our lunch time entertainment of Korean drumming and dancing was spectacular.

After lunch, it was my turn to practice:

Bring the funk, bring the noise. Actually, syncopated Korean rhythms are difficult to master.

Much to digest today, but I have plenty of books, and a good handful to give to Nancy and the LMC when I return.

Speaking of digesting, I need to find a good Korean restaurant for my evening meal. Wish me luck.

First Day

Today is Sunday, July 29, and after a very long plane ride and a circuitous journey in an airport shuttle ride down Sunset Blvd and the corner of Hollywood and Vine, I reached my hotel, which sits in the heart of Koreatown.

The Garden Suite is a Korean owned hotel, and we teachers seem to be the only non-Koreans staying here. I heard more Korean than English spoken in the lobby this afternoon. I may be in the U.S., but I am definitely in a different cultre. Almost every sign for a restaurant or a store has both English letters and Korean characters. However, just across the street is an old theatre that clearly tells me I am in LA.

This Tuesday night I could go see Jack Black and that other guy do their blend of rock/comedy.

But I digress, the main point of this evening was for everyone to gather and share a meal together. The thirty or so teachers at this conference met at the house of Helie Lee, our host and one of the founders of KAFE. We had a home cooked meal of Bi Bim Bap at Lee's swanky home in West LA, near UCLA someone said. Check out her back yard.

The front of her house is quite posh as well.

The highlight of the night, though, was the "Korean punch" made by Daniel, a board member of KAFE. He blended rice wine with watermelon juice. Smooth, but it "snuck up on you" after about half a glass.

Some much for fun and games. Tomorrow we are up early and off to the conference at 7:45. Korean drumming is on the schedule.