Let's start from the beginning. I became bored with language class, and decided to learn a new language at the same time. Since some cousins of mine are Korean, I decided to learn Korean. It was difficult at first, confusing, since all the languages I've ever learned were closely related to English (French, Spanish, Romanian...?) and then there's this whole new ballpark of words & characters. So, yes, I'm still struggling. (half the time I think I'm swearing when I say little things) But anyway...
Later, a girl at school was going nuts because a new Beast CD had come out. And she's obsessed from Korean Pop. So, she began to educate me on their pop culture, (which she knew pretty much everything about) and she got me hooked. I've planned on going there for the passed couple of years to visit my cousins, but never did, and I really really really want to now. I'm learning their language, some culture (thru W. History, had a Korea Unit) and pop culture. I felt pretty good. Then....I got another idea...
In my writing class, we're having to write a 7-10 page paper on anything we want. ("voice of interest" teach the teacher something she/he doesn't even know) Instantly I knew it was going to be on Korea, but what more? The only thing I could think of was education/economic (jobs). So I got to work. And boy is it depressing. Highest rate of suicide & plastic surgery. Girls' use something called Sang-Ka-Pul glue(?) where they literally glue their eyelids so they have bigger eyes. Growing up I always thought it was bad in the states how girls tried to be someone else, and wanted to be pretty, but at least they would except who they were after so long, and it sounds like in Korea, they can't except that. It's this, or nothing. I may be wrong, but out of 5 sites (from American Exchange Students) videos, etc, they all said the same thing.
So, Korean-language
-pop/traditional culture
-education
what's next?
Someone asked me why I was so fixated on Korea, and not other Asian countries like Japan. Well, to be honest.....you always think of Japan or China when people say "Asia". Growing up I will never forget meeting a 7 year old girl who lived next door, I remember asking her if she was Chinese, because she was oriental. She shook her head no, and said she was Korean. I had to think for a minute, because I never heard "Korean" much, it was either China or Japan. She had just moved to the states. And my god she was smart. She knew 8 languages fluently and she was two grades ahead of others her age. And then there was me, you know, the little 8 year old next door who was still struggling with multiplication... She was really nice, and I missed her when she moved back home. But going back to the subject...No one knows much about Korea here. (in the states) at my library...we have two books. One on the language, and one for the Korean War. That's it. And this library is the biggest in the state. Googled, I barely received 20 links that were solely on Korea, the others merely mentioned the country. But yet there's an entire 2-4 shelves on nothing but Japan, history, ecu., eco., etc, etc...same for most countries I've looked up.
I'm back on blogger! Hope to write again soon..........if I have time!
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