Ever heard of Mr. Kanny cereals? I noticed these at a Lotte Mart one night a couple of weeks ago, and while they didn’t appeal at all — they seemed to be some kind of Italian corn breakfast cereal — something stood out about them. The Italian equivalent of “This Product Contains Only” was visible and easy enough to translate, but the next line was covered up by a little green strip of what looked like some kind of colored tape. We peeled off the green stuff on one box, starting on one said (which had a word that looked …
Tag: KOREA
“Ya!”
(This post was written during my flight home, on 6 Sept. 2010.) Before I came to live in Asia, I’d hear people explain how a phrase like “so desu ne” could mean all kinds of things from “I see,” or “really?” all the way to, “I’m glad you see it my way, and acknowledge the responsibility that falls upon you in this position given your involvement with my enemies, and the inevitability of this confrontation between us.” I’m alluding, of course, to the ambiguity of language which is universal: “Uh huh” can denote all kinds of things in English, and …
Crazy Korean Phrase Book
Those who remember my post English Made Difficult, about a crazy series of English textbooks (widely) used in Korea during the 1970s will enjoy the look at this ridiculously useless travel phrasebook for visitors to Korea that looks almost as if it is from the same publisher and author. Check it out. (And a tip of the hat to Josh Brandt, who posted about this on a mailing list.)
What The Zen Cowboy Said
Caveat: I know zilch about horses. But I think this says something worth saying, just the same. Been a long time in coming, too. # You wonder, how could a cowboy be so much like the zen monk in that strange book your auntie from San Francisco sent you? He rides up as the sun is coming up, serene on his old stallion, a faint half-smile on his face, and dismounts. Hoisting the saddle off the horse’s back, he rubs the horse down and smiles at you. It’s the only greeting he ever gives anyone, but friendly enough. You ask …
Recommended Books on Korea
So, I was recently asked for a list of my top ten books about Korean history/politics, for someone who is living here and would like to know more about the country. Of course, asking me such a question is dangerous. Dangerous in two ways, mind: I sometimes have some pretty idiosyncratic views about books, and about historical issues that are worthwhile, and I haven’t read many, many books in the subject, so I may overlook some gems as well as recommending some books that have become dated but were important for me when I read them. So anyway, I figured …