Korea Matters #5: Living with parents

(This post is part of the “Looking Past Korea” Series, my general wrap up on Korean culture.  So far I’ve gone over superficial differences of Korea and cultural aspects that I think are over rated by foreigners.  In this part I talk about the things that I think make Korea unique and different to Western [...]

been slow lately

Sorry I haven’t been posting lately.  My parents are in Seoul for a week or so and I’ve been showing them around.
One thing I’ve learned about Seoul through all of this is that there’s really not much to do in the city if you don’t drink, which my parents don’t.
I don’t think I’ve ever stepped [...]

So this crazy Korean girl is stalking me

I was sitting outside a bar the other weekend when a girl came and sat next to me. At first neither of us recognized each other.
After a moment or so we both looked at each other.
“Cherry?” I said.
“Matt?” she replied.
Let’s forget for a moment that her name fits with the trend followed by [...]

Overrated Korean Culture

(Part of the “Looking Past Korea” series)
For some reason I can’t shake this feeling that I, at this moment, am like the stoner who looks at a tree and wonders what its metaphorical value is?
Sometimes a tree is just a tree.
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When you get down to it Korea is not that different from everywhere else. People [...]

Superficiality Matters #1: Korea is a goth kid

(This post is part of the “Looking Past Korea” series which is a run down of all things I think are superficially important, culturally important, and things foreigners think are important but I think are pretty over rated. This is the 5th of 5 posts about Superficial things that stand out to me.)
Superficiality: Really sad [...]

Superficiality Matters #2: Jessica Alba

(This post is part of the “Looking Past Korea” series which is a run down of all things I think are superficially important, culturally important, and things foreigners think are important but I think are pretty over rated. This is the 4th of 5 posts about Superficial things that stand out to me.)
Superficiality: Jessica [...]

Superficiality Matters #3: I’m so sorry, but I can’t sing the rest of the song

(This post is part of the “Looking Past Korea” series which is a run down of all things I think are superficially important, culturally important, and things foreigners think are important but I think are pretty over rated.  This is the 3rd of 5 posts about Superficial things that stand out to me.)
Superficiality: Korean Songs, [...]

Superficiality Matters #4: Cute Korean Girl Mystique

(This post is part of the “Looking Past Korea” series which is a run down of all things I think are superficially important, culturally important, and things foreigners think are important but I think are pretty over rated)
Superficiality: Korean girls who act cute and naïve towards males.
Why it happens:
Essentially, it’s a difference in the [...]

Superficiality matters #5 – Music Video Commercials

(This post is part of the “Looking Past Korea” series which is a run down of all things I think are superficially important, culturally important, and things foreigners think are important but I think are pretty over rated)
Superficiality: Music videos acting as blatant advertisements
Why it happens:
Money. Remember that episode of Entourage where Vince got paid [...]

Looking Past Korea: Series Introduction

I have to be honest. South Korea, as a topic has begun to bore me.
This sentiment seems odd. Despite the beliefs of some of my friends to the contrary South Korea is changing and developing rapidly. Questions about education and movements in film and entertainment are pushing Korean culture to [...]