HA! Even they can't tell the difference ...

The next time you ask an Asian person if they are a certain nationality, and they respond offended because they are Korean or Japanese instead of Chinese as you thought, tell the to go fuck themselves.

They can't even tell the difference.

Yesterday, I was at Everland, a cool version of Disneyland that unlike the evil mouse factory sells beer all over the park, has multiple smoking sections and sells food at a reasonable price.

There with my sixth grade students on a field trip we noticed a group of Asian people not speaking Korean.

My students said, "They're Japanese."

Later one of my co-workers tried to speak Korean with the group, thinking they were Koreans in a group.

Then one of my other co-workers said they are Chinese people.

The Answer:

HONG KONG.

Now the teacher who said Chinese was close, but if you ever tell a person from Hong Kong they are Chinese, they will be severely pissed with you.

However, I couldn't help enjoy Asians mistaking other Asian's country of origin.

Even they think they all look the same.

I can't wait ...

Thanksgiving. Yes it's finally here.

At this point you might be saying, "But James, you're in Korea. Wasn't Korean Thanksgiving almost two months ago, and wasn't dog served in lieu of turkey?"

Well you would be right on both of those counts, if it wasn't for Itaewon (pronounced eetawan) a foreigner's district here in Seoul. It's located right next to an Army barracks and draws in any foreigners from around Seoul or South Korea for that matter.

There's a few restaurants there that will serve up Thanksgiving dinners. So Marissa and I are heading up Thursday night for a Thanksgiving Buffet.

This dinner has been the first thing on my mind all week. Let me explain a few things first:

- Koreans don't eat Turkey. It's just not available here.
- This week's sixth grade lesson involves the Korean kids from the chapter, going to the American families house for Thanksgiving.

Then I was dumb enough to put together a powerpoint for the lesson, showing pictures of Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy for the kids. Not only have I shown them what we eat, I'm driving myself mad with how damn good it all looks.

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In other news congratulations to my sister Karalyn and her husband Jason on the birth of their daughter, Ella Marie. I don't know when I will meet Ella, but I already have a kilo of dog meat ready for her when she can eat solids.


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http://loughriedoeskorea.blogspot.com

Where have I been and what does my name mean?

Well folks, we've had a little problem in the Korean Government lately. Apparantly the Serfs we're learning how to blog, so the Korean government shut down access to blogspot on governernment computers. Since I work for the public school system, mine is one of them. 

 

I'm trying to figure out a way to post from school, since I don't care to write at home. But since the television writers' strike has shut or is shutting down many of my favorite shows, I might have less time to idley kill in my apartment.

 

I'm attempting to post this by e-mailing it to my blog. Wish me luck

 

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It was a question from one of my co-workers. A legitimate one, considering most Korean names have direct translations and meanings.

People here can point to their name and say, "It means ..." All of their names, and they have three of them, mean something that's directly translated.  

So when they asked me, "What does your name mean?" I was, for the first time in my life, speechless. I thought it meant James. I even had to Altavista my name.

 

Then it came up. "James is Hebrew for Supplanter." Then I was left with the task of explaining what, "supplanter" means. 

 

"It basically means you change something and offer something else in it's place. Like salt substitute (which they don't have here) or food additives."

 

Yes. that is me. I am a cheap substitute.  I should have never looked my name up 

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http://loughriedoeskorea.blogspot.com