15 Hours and a World?

Time changed. 
Not for me, but it did.  That got me wondering- why does time change in the US, but not here?
Americans sure like our change, huh?  Adaptation, progress, change.  You see it in every aspect of what we do. 
That daylight savings is so six months ago.  Time to change.
You bought that car two years ago?  Time to change.
You finished college and still live with your parents? Time to change.
The politicians you elected last time haven't saved the world?  Time for Change.
Faster, shinier, newer, younger.  That building is from thirty years ago-- tear it down for something more up-to-date.

And then there's Korea.  Yes, a land of technology and innovation.  Yes, a land that has seen unbelievable economic turnaround in the past century.  But change isn't the assumption here.
Architectural designs from the 1600s persist today.  Traditional martial arts are untainted by the MMA craze.  Bloodletting is still proscribed as a cure for stomachache. 
Why do I tell you all this now? 
It's a good thing you asked.  I was really getting into that monologue.
I had a class today with my discussion class where we talked about age.  These students are 12-15 years old.  Please keep that in mind.

Jeff:  What age does someone have to be, in order to be Old?
Students: 60.
Jeff: 50 isn't old?
Students:  50 is young.
Jeff:  So your parents (They had previously told me their parents were in their forties and fifties) are young?
Students: Yes.
Jeff:  Do your parents think like you?
Students: (Almost unanimously) Yes.
Jeff:  Did you know Americans can drive at fourteen?  what do you think of that?
Students:  That's dangerous.  They should have to be older.

...Would you EVER get these answers from American fourteen year olds?  How many preteens would tell you their parents aren't old?  I can easily picture a classroom full of American high schoolers sitting and calmly informing me they see eye-to-eye with their parents on most issues.  And that their parents are young.  And that they aren't mature enough to drive.  And that video games are bad.  And that they would like to have less money.  And that Abercrombie and Fitch isn't THE coolest thing ever.

We went on to talk about politics.

Jeff:  Do you think you could do a good job being president?
Students:  No.  We are not old enough.
Jeff:  Why is that important?
Students:  We don't have experience.
Jeff:  How old should a president have to be?
Students: Fifty.
(Readers should note at this point that President Barack Obama is 49 years old-- Twenty years the junior of Korea's President Myeong-Bak Lee.  When I informed them that Obama's opponent was around 70 at election time and called too old, they were flabbergasted)

(Flabbergasted is a ludicrously fun word)

(Flabbergasted.  hah.  Ahem)

Marriage
Jeff:  What age do you think people should get married?
Students:  28-29
Jeff:  Why then?
Students:  By that age, you can be finished with college and have a job, a house, and a car.  But not a cheap Daewoo.   GM owns them now.
Jeff:  Many people I know get married around 22-23.  As soon as they finish college.
Students:  (shocked gasps)  So young?!

Dear America,
You are good at many things.  But how many of our sixteen year olds have the maturity to admit that they don't have the maturity to lead a nation?  How many sixteen year olds would say such concerns as financial stability and a home and a BMW should determine the time for marriage, rather than Love?  This culture is obviously not perfect, but I was very impressed with what I saw today

Also, I can Kip-up and Back-Handspring now.  How cool is that?  Today I trained in punching speed by attempting to put out a candle flame without touching it- simply with the speed of my punch.

...When I get a training montage (which I will HAVE to at some point this year, before my testing and tournament), it will without question include punching out the fire.

Tune in next week for a photo essay of the light-bridges of Mansu-yuk-dong!
Til then,
Jeff-Teacher