Comments Posted By Kevin Kim
Displaying 4,381 To 4,392 Of 4,392 Comments
This rocks. Now I’m hungry. I envy your guests.
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 18/November/2007 @ 9:51 pm
For what it’s worth, I know that some folks experience great Schadenfreude whenever I make typos, which I do rather often. The typos are usually, but not always, caught and corrected within a few hours of posting.
There’s nothing more pleasing than the sight of the language Nazi tripping over his own balls. But, hey– at least I’m proofing my posts. I see you do the same, so Hats Off To You.
Pax,
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 15/August/2007 @ 4:49 pm
John,
Sincere congrats on making the effort to learn the language! I don’t talk about it much on my blog, but I kinda have a problem with long-term expats who suck off the teat of the host country’s economy and don’t have the common decency to make some effort at learning the local lingo. I’m not saying all expats should become fluent (Lord knows I’m not fluent in Korean), but a little effort goes a long, long way in terms of diplomacy: Koreans, as you know, are often delighted when you show interest in their culture.
That said, I would humbly recommend that you practice your Hangeul reading skills by learning to navigate the following three things:
1. a subway map of Seoul that is only in Korean
2. restaurant menus at local dives
3. a world map done up only in Korean
There’s a reason for each one:
1. The subway map is a practical guide, and therefore relevant for travel. Learning to pronounce Korean location names the Korean way, and not the anglophone way, can be helpful if/when you take a taxi, use a bus, or even drive through Seoul. All-Korean maps are often handed out by ajummas at subway station exits. They’re free. The only disadvantage is that they’re also written in a teeny-tiny font because they’re meant to fit into wallets. You can solve this problem by going to a photocopier and blowing the image up.
2. Local restos outside of foreigner zones often don’t print their menus in English. If you plan to travel outside of Seoul with any degree of independence, learning to read menus is a very good idea. Picking up a menu from a local kimbap restaurant is also free, and a great way to learn a lot of food vocabulary FAST. These places usually serve a wide variety of typical Korean dishes, and the menus are often printed out as flyers meant to be distributed on the street. Again– free!
3. Seeing the names of familiar countries in Korean can be helpful for understanding how Koreans look at the world. Also, because Koreans often transcribe country names in a manner that foreigners can recognize (example: Canada = “Kae-nah-dah”; Mexico = “Maek-shi-k’o”), you can use the map to give you hints as to how a given country’s name is pronounced. Here, of course, the all-Korean map won’t be free, but it won’t be expensive, either, if you buy it at a local bookstore.
Again, hats off to you for making this effort. I think it’s great and I wish you the best of luck as you continue to study.
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 03/April/2007 @ 10:28 pm
“That always trips me out when it happens.”
You star! That stuff never happens to me. Well… it happened only once, and that dude was Charlie Reeder of the blog Budae Chigae. I consider him a good friend now. And he’s got a very nice wife.
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 23/March/2007 @ 12:28 am
There’s a whole peninsula to see, man. If I had time and money, I’d be traveling much more than I do. Go by yourself and just get lost in all the hidden valleys. Don’t worry about language barrier; that’s part of the fun. I remember experiencing that sort of lostness in Japan; I speak not a lick of Japanese and can’t read Japanese kana, so it was all goofy pantomiming for yours truly. Loved it.
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 20/December/2006 @ 7:37 pm
Yum, turkey and kimchi!
This is true. They go together very well.
Sounds like you had a great time. Happy post-Thanksgiving!
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 26/November/2006 @ 9:34 pm
Everybody knows this is nowhere
Awesome pics, but some of those “schoolgirls” at the beach have scarily hypertrophic calves!
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 05/November/2006 @ 10:54 pm
I tried to reply to your email, but the email got rejected (firewall? am I SPAM to you now??? true– I look sort of spammish).
Anyway, here’s my reply:
Ayup– that sounds like the story I know.
Cheers,
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 30/August/2006 @ 1:16 pm
Curses! Dangling modifier! Did you catch it?
I wrote:
“In 2002, while taking intensive Korean classes at Korea U., one of our Korean teachers told us that…”
Damn, damn, damn.
The corrected sentence should read:
“In 2002, while I was taking intensive Korean classes at Korea U., one of our Korean teachers told us that,”
In shame,
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 27/August/2006 @ 11:57 pm
Happy Birfday!
In your post, you ask about the name of that restaurant. The name is “Nolbu Myeong-ga.”
Quick breakdown:
Nolbu = name of a character in a famous folk tale about two brothers, Heungbu and Nolbu. Heungbu is the kind, giving, but poor one; Nolbu is the rich, stingy brother. (pronounce the “eu” in “Heungbu” like the “oo” in “book”)
Myeong = name (“eo” pronounced somewhere between “uh” and “aw”)
Ga = family
Myeong-ga = “a family of name,” i.e., a reputable family.
The restaurant’s name, then, might be more elegantly translated as “(The) Honorable House of Nolbu.”
The story of the two brothers sets Heungbu up as the good guy, while Nolbu and his evil wife suffer ill fortune due to their greed. (Ask a Korean friend for the full story; it’s pretty interesting; it involves magical items, birds, and a good deal of humor.)
In 2002, while taking intensive Korean classes at Korea U., one of our Korean teachers told us that, over the years, hearers of the tale began to be more sympathetic to Nolbu, the rich brother (perhaps a reflection of changing times, as Korea became more prosperous). Nolbu, after all, is the guy who had all the goods and could lay out a good spread for visiting noblemen. His name has become synonymous with plenty.
Me, I don’t quite get it, because by the end of the story it’s Heungbu who’s rich and Nolbu who has to beg. Heungbu, being unlike his greedy brother, willingly shares his possessions with Nolbu.
(Be prepared to hear alternate takes from different Koreans, though.)
Cheers,
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 27/August/2006 @ 11:52 pm
You’ve got a great family there, John. I second Jenn’s “Glad you’re back.”
I’m curious about “Superman Returns,” though– I haven’t seen it, but the scuttlebutt I’ve been hearing is that it’s three-quarters chick flick and only a quarter action flick. True? Is this the Hello-Kittification of Superman?
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 27/July/2006 @ 12:48 am
«« Back To Stats PageThanks for the shout-out.
And, yeah– trees probably think more in terms of “one century at a time.”
Oh, to be an Ent…
Kevin
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 07/April/2005 @ 12:50 pm