"Korea Unmasked"

My most recent success in my recently developed "reading while I walk" routine is reading the comic book, "Korea Unmasked" by Won-bok Rhie, originally written in Korean and later translated by Jung Un and Louis Choi. I remember a former colleague telling me about this. At that time I was much less interested in reading. I didn't see how reading could make a difference in the way I think about Korea. One day, my wife was at Kyobo Bookstore, the Barnes & Noble of Korea, and she stumbled across this book in English and apparently my name was written all over it so she bought it for me. At that time, I wasn't quite convinced of my need to read more so I put it on a shelf. Also, I've never been interested in comic books to that degree which didn't help me in reading it as soon as I could have. After I finished the book about Boston which I posted about on this site I was desperately trying to find something I could read while walking to and from my office. So I grabbed "Korea Unmasked" and it turned out to be much more fascinating than I originally thought. The author of this book did a fine job of being frank about the strengths and weaknesses of Korea. One of the things I found helpful was the way in which the author compared Korea with China and Japan. I've always tended to think that the countries were basically the same but now I know the error of that way of thinking. Who would've thought that one country could be so monotheistic (Korea) while another could be so polytheistic while also being individualistic? Perhaps the parts I found the most intriguing were about church, education and the reunification of North and South Korea. There were times when I wanted to shout an Amen and there were other times when I must have been laughing hard enough on my way to work or home that students who saw me may have thought I was paranoid. It's really difficult to criticize a book like this. Naturally, being translated into English by non-native English speakers, the expressions were sometimes slightly unnatural and there were a few typos along the way. But I didn't find those shortcomings to be hindering in terms of my own understanding. I also think the book sometimes errs on the side of exaggerating but I think that is necessary to make the point to people from other countries. Now of course there are some aspects that make their way into conversations with Sinae, which she sometimes wishes I didn't remember and sometimes reminds me that is a generalization. But I think that just makes my point stronger that this book is worthwhile not only for people living in Korea but for people who want to know about Koreans who seem to be scattered throughout the world.

Koreans: The "Silent Immigrants" of Germany

Here is a link to a very interesting article on Koreans who either permanently immigrated to Germany or lived there short-term. There reason for going there would seem to vary from making more money than they could make in Korea at the time to making a significant difference in the Korean economy. The writer of the article above points out that Koreans became known as "silent immigrants" because they adapted so well to living in Germany. The Koreans' strongpoints were putting their all into education and studying as well as working hard. This would seem to be the trademark of Koreans around the world. I also found it interesting that Koreans who were involved in mining were hesitant to talk in-depth about it with Germans, presumably because of the stigma of mining in Korea. I'm glad Korea is paying tribute to what those Koreans did to contribute to the development of Germany while also making a big difference in their own country's economy. Korea Times is covering this story for several days. I think Goethe Institute is also worth mentioning for making a big deal out of this.

Reading Report: "The Happiness Project"

I just finished reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. I purchased this book a year-and-a-half when I visited the US for three weeks while Sinae stayed in Korea to focus on writing her master's thesis. She told me to freely buy books that I can bring back to Korea. I took her advice and as a result I wound up having to cram more books in my carry-on bag in order to avoid paying the surcharge for having an overweight bag. This book was certainly not the most earth-shattering read of all the books I've read, but it was indeed well worth the time I invested. The writer claims to be agnostic but displays herself as being very open to spiritual viewpoints and even speaks directly to churches interested in using her book as a sort of advertisement at the end of the book. As I read this book, and especially as I have finished this book, I think that this could easily be classified in spiritual formation circles as a rule of life because that seems to be exactly what the writer formulates. The basic premise of this book is that the writer dedicated a year to living a happy, more meaningful life and she did so by changing her outlook on life. Some things were very simple, like getting rid of clothing she hadn't worn in quite a while. But other things are more challenging like trying to respond to children without getting angry with them or simply managing one's mood more efficiently. To tell you the truth, the thing this book has enlightened me on the most is the necessity to be happy and that one isn't simply born happy without any struggle. I think it is safe to say that I have spent most of my life being unhappy. Before reading this book, the need to be happy never really dawned on me. I think I've lived my life as if I couldn't be happy because of the circumstances (Having to work for a live from the time I was in elementary school, having to support myself in college and seminary, not being supported by my dad when I went to college for the first time, not feeling "smart enough" to finish the assigned reading in my classes in college etc.). But now, looking back, I realize that I wasn't really trying all that hard. I tend to think that one of the influences that somehow unintentionally swayed me from seeking happiness was my class on the book of Philippians in bible school. The teacher emphasized that happiness is based on what happens and that joy is this Providential emotion Christians can experience. That somehow made me think seeking happiness was bad. So I didn't even seek after it. I still think I would complement what Rubin says about happiness with a more fundamental spiritual aspect (I would be Agnostic if I could but I became convinced that it is incongruous with reality given that we have to make choices every moment regarding things we can see, let alone things we can't see) but that doesn't take away from the strengths of her "argument" if we can call it that. I definitely resonate with what Rubin has written. The first semester I taught at the university where I'm currently employed, I often went into class feeling depressed because students didn't respond to what I said. As a result, I received low evaluations. As an attempt to improve those evaluations, I started every class with a big smile as much as possible. I tell you the truth, I don't think I've ever tried so hard to be more happy. And it apparently worked. Rubin calls this principle, "Act the way you want to feel". Without regurgitating the entire book, other relevant points include being oneself (not expecting "fun" things other people enjoy to necessarily have the same effect on me and also to not let that bother me), taking time to write down things one is thankful for, developing some sort of accountability group (My words not hers) and trying things that one might not normally engage in. There are many more things which I may try to develop more of but as I try to tell my friends when recommending good advice I read in a book which doesn't seem to have the same effect when I try to explain it to them in my less than eloquent manner, read the book and see what you think yourself.

Book Report: Boston Dictionary

The most recent book that I've read while walking to and from work is "The Boston Dictionary" written by John Powers and illustrated by Peter Wallace. This book was HUGE comic relief for me. It was especially therapeutic when I was having difficulty connecting with my students in class. I tried to show them "Bostonish" but they often missed the point. Even Canadian and American colleagues had a difficulty getting some of the jokes like, "How do you know when someone is a foreigner? They try to speak to people in English". I think the joke got lost in translation or else I'm just not good at telling jokes. Or as my wife, Sinae suggests, perhaps I tend to laugh at jokes more easily than most people. At the same time, this book was not only entertaining but it was also educational. Even though I only lived in the Boston area for 9 months, as I read this book which modifies spelling in order to underscore authentic Bostonian pronunciation, I recalled people I met in Boston who spoke EXACTLY as the writer(s) wrote this book. It is also educational in terms of the key places in Boston or what people do and why they do it. One of the greatest errors we folk from outside of Boston make is saying, "Pahk yi cah in Harvahd Yahd" is that it's impossible or at least illegal to park one's car in Harvard Yard. I won't spoil everything by telling you everything in this book. Sinae and I bought it at a souvenir shop in Boston but I'm hopeful that it can also be purchased online. There are other books that have also been written which I hope to read. This book is a little thicker than a magazine but nearly just as convenient to handle while walking down the street. But I must warn you: you may be perceived as being crazy because this book is so funny that you may find yourself laughing at loud.

A book I recommend

My dad's younger brother (not to be confused with his youngest brother) lived in Denver for a number of years. I suppose people thought he would retire there. He certainly had developed quite a circle of friends and lived in a nice house in a nice part of the city (Well, I liked it when I visited). Then one day, he started to make plans to build a house in the middle of nowhere. To be honest, I think a lot of people thought he had lost his mind (I confess that I was one of them). People simply couldn't understand why a person would leave comfort for discomfort. Apparently, he wasn't the first person to do such a thing. But unlike others who have tried the same and failed, he has been very successful. Not only has he built his own home (I only hope that his parents can see what he is doing now) and built a new circle of friends, but he has also become a professional writer. That makes me proud which is why I introduced his book to my students before E-Cafe (It's not so much a cafe as it is a big room with a mixed-coffee dispenser and a place for students to sit and practice their English with a "native speaker") one day. I hope you'll consider buying this book to see just a little bit more why someone would want to leave the city (I'll confess, that as much as I like cities I have a hard time comprehending why people want to live in the country but perhaps my day will come too) to be in a place where they can have as much solitude as they want. You can buy the book in an electronic or in a hard-copy version at www.blurb.com.

Reading Report #5

I came across, "The Shack" when I visited America alone because Sinae had to stay in Korea that summer to focus on her thesis. Her advisor told her, "If you want to graduate, then you better stay in Korea". She wanted to graduate so she stayed in Korea. I went to target and I bought several books, this being one of them and another being "The Help". I'm currently reading another book I bought that day. By the way, when I returned to Korea, I had to reorganize my books in my carry-on luggage in order to not have to pay the surcharge of $150 or whatever in order to compensate for an overweight bag. I don't have a lot to say about this book because I think it speaks for itself. I started this book at the airport in Denver the night before Sinae and I returned to Korea this last summer (I'll hopefully be posting some pictures about that soon). I enjoyed reading this book for the simple reason that it is a conversation with God. I suppose one could argue that some of the language is oversimplified. I presumed this book was not written for philosophers and theologians in the academic sense but for "lay theologians" or those struggling in their faith. I was one of those. I appreciated the relational aspect of the book throughout and the writer's attempt to deal with tough questions like, "Where is God when there is suffering" and the relationship between God and time. Even though I think the write took a more traditional approach, I think he pushed that envelope enough to make readers think without pushing them over the edge. This is a good book especially for those who have had a tragedy that they couldn't understand or for those who earnestly pray (or want to pray) but can't seem to hear God's voice.

Reading Report #4

I was looking at books in Kyobo, the equivalent of Barnes and Noble in Korea, and I stumbled across this book. I had been looking for a book on the history of Korean churches for some time. It became clear in conversations with Sinae that my assumptions about Korean churches were not accurate. Of course, at that time my experience of churches in Korea were limited to the Church of the Nazarene which is supposedly the smallest denomination of the Wesleyan-holiness tradition in Korea. Of course I didn't buy the book right away. I wouldn't want to be hasty about buying a book now, would I? But I did toil to find the book at Yes24.com, the equivalent of Amazon.com, and I told Sinae I'd like to receive this book as a gift for my birthday. I'm embarrassed to say it took me what seemed like a year and maybe longer to finish this book. In fact I didn't finish it until Sinae and I took a trip to America last summer so it may have taken me longer than a year. This book is also as thick as the bible. I think I'm attracted to thick books, as you will see from future reading reports. I was a little disappointed to find that this book doesn't deal with contemporary issues because it was translated from a Korean work that was apparently published sometime in the 1970s. However, that being said, I still found the book to be helpful in understanding Korea's history. The downside of this book is that the translation is not always accurate so I found myself proofreading in my head in order to understand what the author intended to say. Some things to note: 1. The Catholic Church was the first tradition to come to Korea. This reality makes it all the more puzzling that there is such a strong line between Catholics and Protestants. In Korea, Catholics don't even call their place of worship a "church" but a "cathedral". 2. Presbyterians and Methodists were the next group to come. I want to say Presbyterians came first but I don't want to get too bold here. This explains why Presbyterians and Methodists (stating this order based on my historical understanding not on my denominational preference)are the largest bodies and why my own tradition, the Church of the Nazarene, is so small. 3. A desire to not be distinct. This subject has been the source of many heated conversations between Sinae and I. It seems that Koreans don't seek to have the same distinctive doctrines that American churches have which could be a good thing I suppose. In my experience, only ministers know the differences between denominations. Even Wesleyan-holiness pastors don't necessarily preach a strong message on entire sanctification because they don't want to overwhelm the person listening (I don't intend to stereotype. My understanding of Korean is minimal and I can only make this claim based on a conversation with one pastor). There seems to be a long history of American missionaries wanting to underscore the distinctiveness and Koreans wanting to work together. However, there were still problems even in single denominations over a liberal/conservative divide. Of course that divide was premature to the homosexual debate so the definition of "liberal" would be along different lines anyway.