For those who are unaware of Korean relations over the past year, I'll give a quick catchup before hitting today's news. In late spring/early summer of this year, North Korea fired on and sunk a South Korean ship. In late summer, North Korean artillery fired shots into the water between the two countries. Today, however, things changed again.
At around 2:30 p.m. today, North Korean artillery began bombarding Yeonpyeong island, a populated island off the Western coast of South Korea. Many homes were destroyed in the attack, but injuries have only been speculated, among civilians. One South Korean soldier was killed and four were injured. The sourth returned fire and scrambled fighter jets to the island, and the US responded by dispatching F22s to the area.
That was about three hours ago.
Thirty minutes ago, the North picked up the bombardment again, in the same area, and I'm told over 200 artillery shells have hit Southern soil. I don't yet know the results of this attack, but I want everyone at home to know I'm fine. The island IS relatively close to Incheon, but not close enough that I heard the artillery. The North's guns may be quiet again now, but I can't tell you if they are, or if they'll stay that way.
The North's spokesman declared the barrage as a reply to South Korean troops training in that area.
This map shows the location of Yeonpyeong with Incheon being the highlighted area of the Mainland and Incheon airport marked with the jet icon.
Coteachers gravely informed me of the emergency, asking if I was scared. Then their serious faces cracked and they asked if I wanted to run away (-The only direction someone in south korea could "run" to escape the country is North.) It was a joke. Students asked me if I'd heard of the emergency, their faces shining, each wanting to be the first messenger of the misfortune...and then they returned to their computer games.
Surreal, to an American, to imagine shells falling on your homeland, homes on your sovereign soil burning from an enemy military's attack, and children still in school in the city nearest the barrage. Imagine joking about it at work, while you continue business as usual. There's no backlash or anger here. The lack of general fear might serve to put a wary foreigner at ease. And calm reason does tend to help in crisis situations.
But gallows humor?
Excitement?
Where in the hell am I?
It's life as I've never seen it- living in America, it's easy to assume conflict is something that happens within a small village in MiddleEast-istan, or a tribal war in Africa. Either way, neither is much of a threat to the actual safety of Americans going about their lives.
Here, conflict is real. It doesn't creep around in whispered words in foreign neighborhoods, it knocks at the front door with coastal shells. Even as I write this, I wonder if I should feel foolish-
If everyone else is calm, am I worrying for nothing?
Is this only an American's inability to deal with the reality of conflict?
Or is this shell of Korean bravado just a way of dealing with the fact that their elephant in the room is crazy and armed?
Erich Maria Remarque said (of being on the recieving end of artillery) "...we are in a good humor, because otherwise we should all go to pieces."
The response of adopting a holiday mood is, thus, the only one that makes sense. If there is danger, or if there isn't, no one benefits from being panicked. Shells (or worse) may fall on South Korea, but this country understands a reality that Americans (myself included) have yet to fully grasp-
If children begin their martial training at 3 years old
If ALL men of the country must serve in the military
If clear and present danger is understood to be a ridiculous concept (since you always border such danger)
-Then maybe that country won't suffer from the violent inability to handle violence that plagues Americans. I would remind you here that many in the US on September 12, 2001 (the only time in my lifetime where I've seen an enemy attack MY home soil) were crying out to the government to make the middle east a sea of glass.
I've wondered before at this toughened, militarized way of life.
I've seen how it manifests in everyday life. I've seen the people that live it. I've seen what they do.
Thanks for joining me in finding out why.
In a recent update, pressure has been increasing on China to reject North Korea's proposed Nuclear Delivery Device, as China is currently the only country with the manufacturing capacity to deliver on the 1.5 million rubber bands required to power the 2-acre slingshot.
See? I can do it too. I'll be developing weapons-grade wit tonight when I'm done with Taekwondo.
Til next time, I'll keep you updated
Jeff
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Jeff M. Davis vs. Scott Pilgrim vs The World
There are times I have to sit and wonder at the fact that I live in a place old enough to have tales of swordsmen wandering the land. Of kings and empresses, of dynasties and palaces that rose in splendor and fell to ruin. A place so old it has its own mythology. There are times I have to marvel at the fact that I live in a world that much of our video-game driven culture wishes it could glimpse.
If you've ever felt that way,
If you've ever felt that way,
This is for you.
Korea Fantasy VII: The Legend of Jeff-Teacher
Name: JEFFM
Old Woman: Oh that’s right, your name is JEFFM.
Old Man: Oh, those monsters sent by evil emperor KIM are outside, again.
Old Woman: Maybe JEFFM will be the one to save us from them. He certainly did appear on the beach in a storm like the Choson One was prophesied to do.
Old Man: Of course, but we can’t send him out empty handed. Help yourself to our wares!
You got the Travel Bag! You can now carry more items!
Old Man: Off you go, stop by if you ever need a rest from your travels, JEFFM!
A wild CHICKENHOF appeared!
CHICKENHOF was defeated!
CHICKENHOF: AAAAAAARRRRGH! But you're going to need more than that to beat COWBOY ANDY! Hahahahahaha!
>This way to Bupyeong Subway
SUBWAY ENGINEER CID: Hiyaaa, where ya goin?
Arriving at Incheon- Arts Center district
LOTTE GUARD: Who goes there? No one enters LOTTE without a CARD KEY! Do you have a CARD KEY?
Player's Guide Tip: LOTTE can't be accessed at some times on certain days until you obtain the CARD KEY. Until then, try one of the smaller adjacent stores to rest and replenish!
Level Up! JEFFM is now level 23 (in Korean)! JEFFM learned "Taekwondo- Speed"! JEFFM learned "Stop playing now before the soldiers play and embarass me"!
...You can't actually do that in real life.
COWBOY ANDY: Well howdy there, pardner! Did the Bears win the series this year?
Victory!
That's enough playing for now. I gotta stop wasting time on this game and actually DO something with my life today. I wish the real world was this exciting...
Monday, November 8, 2010
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
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
Monday, November 1, 2010
Happy Halloween from Korea!
So the past few weeks I've told you ALL about this place without telling you much about...this place. For an example of what I mean, think of your best friend. how do you describe him or her? Is he tall with blonde hair? Does she have long hair and blue eyes? Is he the guy in the red shirt? ( or "was he the guy in the red shirt?" if you're a star trek fan). Did she have the long, overly elaborate name that either means she lived in the 1460s or her parents don't get out much? We forget how much of even our basic ways of describing who we're talking about are based on coming from an individualistic society.
Korea is not exactly as diverse as America. It's hard to explain what it's like to walk down the streets of a major city and see only one ethnic group. I get attention just for being of a different race. It's really incredible. But it goes further than that.
Yes, very dark brown hair and brown eyes describes 98% of the people I see.
But school uniforms further erase personal lines. And almost every single school has them.
And what if I went on to say that these schools also require school haircuts for both boys and girls?
And every family name I've heard is one syllable, while the first names are two.
So how do you describe someone here without all the factors we take for granted? Well one of my students was trying to tell me about another and described her as the girl with small eyes.
I'm not gonna touch that one.
Either way, the culture is so far divorced from our belief that individuality is an ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY part of life, it still shocks me sometimes.
On a completely unrelated note, I did have a fun and enlightening experience with a class. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it because I may be losing perspective on the issue. When talking to one of my upper-level classes, I had them do a simulation where they decided how to run a government. Their top priorities?
1. Providing care for the elderly
2. A strong military
3. Medical and technological research.
Other options on the list included free hospitals, college grants to students, free k-12 public schools, and even sanitation services. Ever-interesting. I'm not sure I could pinpoint the answers an American school would give as to what the government should spend its money on, but I'm intrigued to hear your thoughts as to how we would rank it. I may have them play the lifeboat game next. THAT will be a challenging day.
I'd like to leave you with one more story, in the spirit of halloween. It's a korean ghost story that all the children down to nine years old knew. It goes something like this
A middle school is preparing for the end of the year, and the students in the classrooms are aware of the rankings- who is the number one student, who is second, who is third. On one of the last few days of the school year, the number two student invites the number one student up for a rooftop celebration of how much butt the two of them kicked on the school. Except the stakes are a little higher than that, you see. The number one student has a much more promising future because of the rank, and the number two knows this. And as they toast each other on the rooftop, 2 pushes 1 off the roof. The class is in mourning as the school year wraps up, and when the final exams are less than a week away, 2 is studying alone in the building late one night. It's storming outside (as outside is wont to do in these stories) and when number two looks out, and sees something strange silhouetted by a flash of lightning, this genre-unaware student pops over for a look. Peering out the window into the darkness, unable to see anything, the student is shocked when the lightning flashes again, showing the eyes of student 1 staring right back through the glass. Student 1 reaches through the window and grabs 2 by the throat, pulling both of them to a very poetic end.
The moral of this story could be one of either two things. It clearly shows how much pressure is on these students. When the children are pushed so hard every day to attend multiple schools and fight for their life in an ever-more-competetive school system, it breaks them, and costs them their childhood. It hurts somewhere inside my chest to see a 10-year-old leaving school at five oclock (her second school of the day) and I ask her if she's headed home now only to be be told that she is headed to another school. There's no doubt in my mind that the first lesson we can take from this story is a warning of the dangers of such a high-pressure school system.
The second lesson is always be student number 3.
'Til next time,
Jeff-Teacher
Korea is not exactly as diverse as America. It's hard to explain what it's like to walk down the streets of a major city and see only one ethnic group. I get attention just for being of a different race. It's really incredible. But it goes further than that.
Yes, very dark brown hair and brown eyes describes 98% of the people I see.
But school uniforms further erase personal lines. And almost every single school has them.
And what if I went on to say that these schools also require school haircuts for both boys and girls?
And every family name I've heard is one syllable, while the first names are two.
So how do you describe someone here without all the factors we take for granted? Well one of my students was trying to tell me about another and described her as the girl with small eyes.
I'm not gonna touch that one.
Either way, the culture is so far divorced from our belief that individuality is an ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY part of life, it still shocks me sometimes.
On a completely unrelated note, I did have a fun and enlightening experience with a class. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it because I may be losing perspective on the issue. When talking to one of my upper-level classes, I had them do a simulation where they decided how to run a government. Their top priorities?
1. Providing care for the elderly
2. A strong military
3. Medical and technological research.
Other options on the list included free hospitals, college grants to students, free k-12 public schools, and even sanitation services. Ever-interesting. I'm not sure I could pinpoint the answers an American school would give as to what the government should spend its money on, but I'm intrigued to hear your thoughts as to how we would rank it. I may have them play the lifeboat game next. THAT will be a challenging day.
I'd like to leave you with one more story, in the spirit of halloween. It's a korean ghost story that all the children down to nine years old knew. It goes something like this
A middle school is preparing for the end of the year, and the students in the classrooms are aware of the rankings- who is the number one student, who is second, who is third. On one of the last few days of the school year, the number two student invites the number one student up for a rooftop celebration of how much butt the two of them kicked on the school. Except the stakes are a little higher than that, you see. The number one student has a much more promising future because of the rank, and the number two knows this. And as they toast each other on the rooftop, 2 pushes 1 off the roof. The class is in mourning as the school year wraps up, and when the final exams are less than a week away, 2 is studying alone in the building late one night. It's storming outside (as outside is wont to do in these stories) and when number two looks out, and sees something strange silhouetted by a flash of lightning, this genre-unaware student pops over for a look. Peering out the window into the darkness, unable to see anything, the student is shocked when the lightning flashes again, showing the eyes of student 1 staring right back through the glass. Student 1 reaches through the window and grabs 2 by the throat, pulling both of them to a very poetic end.
The moral of this story could be one of either two things. It clearly shows how much pressure is on these students. When the children are pushed so hard every day to attend multiple schools and fight for their life in an ever-more-competetive school system, it breaks them, and costs them their childhood. It hurts somewhere inside my chest to see a 10-year-old leaving school at five oclock (her second school of the day) and I ask her if she's headed home now only to be be told that she is headed to another school. There's no doubt in my mind that the first lesson we can take from this story is a warning of the dangers of such a high-pressure school system.
The second lesson is always be student number 3.
'Til next time,
Jeff-Teacher
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