Some of my Favourite Konglish Fails:

If you're a foreigner living in Korea, chances are you have enjoyed the Asian phenomena known as "Effed Up English". Am I right? I know I have...

As my time in Korea gets shorter and shorter, this blog has turned from a "gotta inform newcomers" kind of thing, to a "gotta make sure I don't forget this" kind of thing. Sorry, I'm being selfish. I'll make it up to you all later... maybe. If I feel like it.

One of my favourite things about Korea is the hilarious tee shirts you randomly find with botched English written all over it. Some are grammatically incorrect, but cute all the same, while some are just plain offensive. The best part of this whole genre is, usually, that the wearer has *no idea* what their tee shirts say. English is just plain sexy- does it even matter?

I have a few shirts myself, that I just couldn't resist buying. One has a picture of an angel and a cat holding hands- very cutesy- on top, and on the bottom it has explicit gangsta rap lyrics. Very explicit. Another has a picture of doughnuts on the front with the words "Who am very delicious" written on it. On the back it says "dognut poisoning".

This phenomena is not just limited to tee shirts, though- oh no. If you've read some of my earliest posts (back when I was sent into giggling fits by any kind of broken English) you'll see restaurant signs, bar signs, even boxes full of "cacktail napkins". It never stops being funny.

My favourite these days, though, is something I've noticed my entire time in Korea, but never blogged about it or even said anything until recently. It's so perfect, so fitting, so obviously true, I can't believe the Korean people have gone through with it. Of course, I'm talking about the names of their gas stations.

There are one or two with regular names- like SK or GS or whatever- but I'm not interested in those. The gas stations I'm talking about are called "EnClean" (unclean) and S-Oil (soil). Who thought of these names? Did someone from Greenpeace infiltrate the Korean gas companies and name them as some lame act of revenge? Like, "the joke's on you guys, your gas stations are dirty", etc. etc.?

I'm just not sure how they could have knowingly given themselves such names. It's hilarious. I chuckle every time I pass a gas station. It's actually one of the first things I noticed when I was driving to Suwon from the airport on my first day in Korea. "Why would they make themselves sound like dirt?", I remember thinking...

Maybe they just aren't in denial about what they're doing to the environment...

That's my weekly rant. Thanks for reading! Here's one of the worst tee shirts found yet. My friend Michelle found this guy at a palace in Seoul and he had no idea what it meant. Could a shirt possibly be more inherently racist? I think not.

I hear the Philippines are overrated.

So my friends have left me in Suwon for the hot, sunny, tropical landscape of Malapascua island in the Philippines. Last minute deals are excellent, and if you know you have vacation coming up you should always, always put aside major purchases in case you get a sweet deal the last minute. In my case, the purchase was a computer, and I will never be that stupid again. Still though, it works out since one of us had to watch our pets, so I've taken the dog, Fozzie, for a few days while my friends lie on the beach. A fair trade? Well, for Christmas Fozzie ate all the cat's food and then threw it up on my bed! You do the math. I'm really not this bitter in real life, though, and can see the humour in this whole situation... seriously.

I took him for a very long walk today and we wandered around a park in Suwon several blocks down the road from my neighbourhood, near Ingyedong. I'm so flaky, I always forget to write down the name of these places I visit, but honestly, it's pretty much the only park near Ingyedong with an amphitheatre and cool statues (including a war memorial or two) everywhere. I had a lovely walk, everyone I passed either smiled at me and the crazy poodle or looked genuinely frightened. I understand completely; Fozzie may be small, but he is ferocious. Not.

Enjoy the pictures!


The park is on quite a large hill, and has a surprisingly good view of the South end of the city!

I really enjoyed the sculptures; however this particular piece confuses me. I guess a frog in a coffee mug is a regular occurence or something.

This is the amphitheatre where once my friends and I stumbled upon the finale of a free concert. As we arrived, everyone turned around and stared at us. I felt sorry for taking all the attention away from the musicians and we left; the whole time feeling the burning stares and hearing the girly giggles. I doubt I'll go to another performance in Suwon.

Fozzie didn't know where he was going, but he was on a mission to pee on anything that struck his fancy. Better outside than in my apartment, I always say!

This tree still had green leaves. It's as if we skipped winter completely and went straight onto spring (I wish).

As I said, there were beautiful statues and memorials everywhere. It makes me feel more patriotic than I ever felt in Canada, even. Well that's a lie, actually. I am a very patriotic Cape Bretoner!

This memorial monument was really grand and beautiful. I suppose the war is still fresh in the minds of many Koreans. I often see older men in wheelchairs and wonder if they were maimed or wounded during the war. Very sad when you think about it...

The proverbial game of cat and mouse, with a carelessly forgotten jacket as an accent. I like.

This old couple was so cute. They gave me a big smile and an "anneyoseo!" and said something about Fozzie. Gad love them.

More war memorial monuments. Really well done, in my basic opinion. I'm no art critic!

It took some getting used to, seeing these Buddhist symbols all over Korea. I didn't realize that this is where the Nazi's got the idea for their swastika. In Buddhism, it symbolizes good fortune and as I hit my five-month mark in Korea, it no longer has a bad meaning for me- not that I would ever have it tattooed to my body or anything, but the symbol itself is not a symbol of hatred or facism and many people in the world don't know that. I sure didn't!

Taboo Korean graffiti. No doubt the work of some no good teenager! I love it.

Maybe I'm going too far with this, but the Korean obsession with all things White even goes back to Jesus! I'm sure Jesus would have loved Korean children too, so why not paint a picture with Korean kids in it? Maybe more would convert...?

This is the jjimjilbang I sometimes frequent! Yeah, it's awkward being naked in front of a gazillion staring Korean women, but you get used to anything. I love the saunas, and the mineral baths are to die for, and it costs less than 10 bucks for 24 hours (if you want to stay 24 hours... it's entirely up to you). You can also get the traditional Korean "scrubdown" which is too invasive for my liking, or you can get a vigourous massage by the women who work there.

Ah, the Centreble. The only place I know of where I can use my Canadian bank card. And the name is to die for! Only a Korean could have come up with such a great combination of English names for potential shopping buildings.

The Fry Place

You can have a beer or two... or seven...

And enjoy the ambience. The writing's on the wall...

Timeless. Too appropriate.

Someone has an obsession.

Straight outta 1992.

Random, Random, Random...

I haven't blogged in a few days and I'm sorry about that. I've been busy planning my life for next year, so it took prevalence over blogging (gasp! such blasphemy!). I got a great sounding job in Germany starting next summer which will start pretty much immediately after my contract in Korea ends, being an au pair for a busy and fun-sounding family, so I'm pretty stoked! I'm still loving my Korean life though, and this past weekend I took the much-revered trip to Costco that my bosses take us on once a month. I bought a 15 pack of macaroni and cheese, a double pack of cream cheese, and broccoli and cheese soup. I think it's safe to say that the thing I miss most from home (foodwise) is cheese. Agreed? I also got some bagels- a necessity for the cream cheese. I'm a very happy girl right now!

I finished most of my Christmas shopping yesterday around Suwon Station, where most of the good shopping is in town. They have a Body Shop, an English book store, clothing that would actually fit most Westerners, and lots of neat little trinket and jewellry stands. The best thing about Christmas shopping around Suwon Station? No, it's not the crazy man selling those poor baby bunnies wearing tube socks as shirts (I HATE that guy) for 10, 000 won apiece. It's the gigantic Christmas tree, the christmas music blaring from outdoor speakers, and the lovely decorated archways that make me feel like I'm in Rockafellar Square as opposed to a dirty, but charming city in the heart of Korea. We're going there for a Christmas photo shoot very soon, and I will show you it's awesomeness first hand!

For now, please enjoy some rando pictures:



A shop in the Insadong underground. It's a pretty average conversation to have, I think. "Hey! Check out my new underwear!".

We made a new friend at McDonalds... Jina, one of our TA's, says he is a famous Korean TV star (I think she said TV). Kerri really likes him!

I'm a little more skeptical.

But Liz just loves him!

One lonely gerbil among the bunnies at Emart. For God's sake, someone just BUY him! Look how alone he feels.

Christmas Shopping in Sub Zero Temperatures. Excellent!

View of the Han while crossing on the subway. It was such a clear day; hardly any smog!

There was a bit of smog on this side. I wish I lived in one of those apartments on the hillside.

One of the winding alleyways in Insadong

The shops put a lot of their merchandise out in the street to attract people... but really, every store sells the same thing!

Janine and Amy

Kerri, Janine, and Robot/Heater Salesman

Liz attempted to pound rice into dough, but the pounder mallet was too heavy for her to lift. Eventually she lifted it, and everyone watching burst out cheering.

This guy was doing a really cool fan dance. I took this from a shopping terrace. There's always something happening in Insadong.

Pottery for sale!

I found this really cool left wing shop... after I took the picture I found the "No Pictures" sign. Oops.

It was a good day for interesting coffee mugs. I should have just bought one!

Rory and Matt's Christmas presents! Just kidding Margret and Sar. Their gifts are slightly less exciting (but only slightly).

There was a greenhouse lane on the shopping terrace... it was very pretty.

I look like a fool

But Kerri looks excellent! I'm jealous.

Like I said, a GREAT day for coffee mugs

These university peeps were demonstrating in the street. Kerri and I became the white poster girls for encouraging Korean youth to vote in the upcoming election (they're dressed like a bride and groom because they were saying that election day should be as important as your wedding day).

The chopstick stand. This poor woman was freezing.

Traditional Korean Greeting Card?

Where's Waldo Moment: can YOU see the Christmas decorations?

We ended the day at a traditional Korean teahouse. This was my lovely, hot cup of rosebud tea. It tots warmed me up.

A Little Something We Call Walkin' the Dog

This is a store in my neighbourhood where you can buy as many Korean side dishes (because in Korea, meals aren't meals without at least five side dishes) as you want. Just like a candy store, they'll just give you whatever sides you want, weigh them, and charge you by the weight. Quite inexpensive and delicious! If you're wondering why the little girl looks scared, she freaked out when she saw the dog. Seriously though, he's just a little poodle. Even grown men are scared of him!

All kinds of goodies for your sweetheart for sale outside Paris Baguette. Pepero Day is tots romantic.

In Gokbanjeong-dong: the YC gym, galbi, and PB bangs. That's pretty much all my neighbourhood has- oh, wait... we have some hair salon's, too! I love my neighbourhood.

A new cafe just opened a few streets over from me. The name is appealing, no?

My latest garbage find. Finally, after asking for a guitar for Christmas all those years, I find one in the street. The Gods are smiling! It's only missing one E string... now I just need to find a place to fix it for me.

Downtown, by Emart. My camera is no good at night, I've decided.

Korea's answer to Walmart? No, I would say Korea's answer to The Bay. That seems like a closer match.

Staring longingly at Korean high fashion...

Almost at Emart! Fozzie is looking back to make sure I'm still with him. Cutie.

We need to do something about his demon eyes.