I am thankful for the people that I’ve gotten to know in this short span of 2.5 weeks in Korea, without whom, my trip would have been very boring!

Thankful for my colleagues - Vicky, Gio and Chloe who have been really nice, bringing me to eat all the wonderful Korean cuisine day after day in the office. Though my weight has not changed, my appetite for Korean food certainly has! In fact, Korean food is so fabulous: its full of variety, makes you full, and yet always very healthy! Had Bulgogi, umpteen types of Bibimbabs, Mul Neng Myon (Cold noodles), Kimchi Soup, Ginseng Chicken soup at Gio’s parents restaurant! I think among all my trips, Korea really blow my mind away in terms of food!

Happy to have met friends from Sarang Community Church - Karen, Isaac and James and epecially Joon Soo, who apparently tried to hack my blog but failed miserably hehe..they were out with me for picnic at the Olympic Grand Park after the Church service on Sunday and we played really cool Korean games in the park…very exciting man. Just for my own memory sake, they are - (i) Hand Action (Double chain version) (ii) I love you, Stupid (No Smile version) (iii) 007 Bang (Silent version). I am simply amazed at these games…quite ingenius, yet loads of fun and laughter!

In a stroke of luck (or rather blessing), I managed to meet Karen’s Korea university friends during Children’s day. And yes, we did what most children do on children’s day, we went to Seoul’s Children Grand Park. I was sort of amazed with Wei Hon for deciding on that place to meet cos half the city’s children are in there!! Arrghh He and I went to sight see, in the midst of thronging thousands of lovely, fun-loving, cute…errmm…also got those crying/bleating one’s that pester their parents non stop. In the end, we decided to go somewhere else when the others arrived. That was when I had my first taste of Mul Neng Myon - a really awesome dish that is served in cold soup and vegetables…really cooly, might be a best seller in Singapore in view of our hot climate. I can’t help it, but I think there is really really alot of good food here in Korea that might be brought into Singapore…anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit ought to check out the food here! Glad to have known you all - In Young, Eun Ju, Hee Ju and Eu Jin.

Finally, I met Daniel on one of the palace tours. He is a US trooper stationed in Seoul..got to take photographs with him Anyhow, we did an amazing thing the following day, we went off to Hangang river to cycle! The place was simply gorgeous man….much much longer than the East Coast Park of Singapore with open lawns, play grounds, good air, riverside view and the city skyline stretching for miles. Enjoyed the company and it took my mind away some negative thoughts I had the previous night.

Okay, enough writing…I gotta catch my plane now!

Today is my last night here in Korea. Was a very packed Saturday as I went around doing some last minute visiting. Feeling a little nostalgic now as I prepare to pack to leave tomorrow. Here’s a collection of my thoughts and feelings about this country.

The culture is heavily influenced by confucianism. The 5 types of relationships:

1. Sovereign/Subject,
2. Father/Son,
3. Husband/Wife,
4. Seniors/Young people,
5. Friendship

These relationship ideas seem to permeate the entire social fabric. There are clear roles and definitions for everyone, be it in a company, school, or the family unit. Among all the countries I went to, this is the by far the most influenced in Confucian thought, even much more so than China!!

Just one example, when I get to know friends/colleagues, I was often asked my age, so that I can be treated accordingly. (it doesn’t help when I have such an youngish face!) Also, there is this obsession in Korea with regards to Org Charts. They need to know exactly where I fit in, in the whole scheme of things. Where do I rank in the hierarchy etc etc.

Korea society is heavily hierarchical and structural. As such, they are very organised and make excellent engineers! Hehe. There is still discrimination going on against women; most leadership positions are usually given to men. But this is slowly changing with the advent of westernisation and when education takes on a more modern approach.

On the economic front, korea is facing the same economic pressures as Singapore; their manufacturing plants are moving towards China. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get good jobs now. Worse still, there are so many universities in Korea that I lost track of them in the subway map…just imagine the supply and demand forces at work; competition is fierce man.

A colleague told me that the best jobs these days are found in Government National Corporations. They are very much like Temasek Holdings, investing in other companies both domestic and overseas. Employees get high pay, relax working hours and solid job security (government don’t retrench you see). This kind of job I also want man…hee. I also hear that Samsung pays its staff very well, around 3-4k sing dollars for entry levels. But then again, I also hear that someone landed up in a mental hospital after working in Samsung. (you can’t have the best of everything I guess)

Modern culture is very techy in korea. Mobile phones, internet media, blogging are the rage these days! There is this super portal known as cyworld in korea with unlimited space for photo albums and blogs (wow!). Most young koreans I meet are into these cyworld. I think Korea is representative of what many developing nations in Asia will become in the next 10 years. I ought to start learning about the internet soon man It is a good way to communicate ideas and share oneself.

English Language is a very sought after thing here in Korea. It is an international language and the language of commerce. As such, English Language accreditation is a priority for many Korean students. However, like in China, the problem here is in conversation, not grammar. They need a context like in Singapore, whereby the medium of instruction and interaction is in English.

As for korean spirituality…hmm, not much chance to explore this aspect. Most of the prayer meetings are in Korean. Didn’t manage to talk in detail with any pastors also. But its a joy to see the korean churches sending out missionaries!

On the people and food front…it is an entirely new section by themselves. Will post some pictures soon…

This is my confession. No, I m not gay…its just that I have noticed a weird occurrence in Korea. About 75% of the korean men I meet have single eyelids. A similar percentage of women have double eyelids. Really really curious why the discrepency. A rought calculation:

1. Assume that 75% men have single eyelids
2. Assume that 75% women have double eyelids
3. Assume that the genetic potential to have double eyelids is equal bwt men and women and that the discrepancy is caused by cosmetic surgery for women.
4. 25% men (and hence women) have natural double eyelids
5. 75%-25%=50% of total women have gone for cosmetic makeover to get the ratio in 1.
6. If y is the percentage of single eyelid ladies that go for plastic surgery, then
7. y X 75% = 50%, y = 67%!!

Not to mention nose jobs, jaw aligmnment, mammary enhancements…etc etc. wow wee…I am intrigued! Why such great social pressure to have slim bodies, big eyes, double eyelids, long lashes, pearly skin, silken hair? I am tempted to say that ladies here are the more superficial sex…vanity vanity…tsk tsk. But yet, what gave them the impetus towards vanity? Men?

Chew on it…if all man like fat, ugly and featureless ladies…will the cosmetic industry be the same? No…we will have lipo-enhancements, mammarian miniaturisation and maybe, perhaps sand paper haha. Yes…I really do feel that may just happen. So whats the issue here? I guess its simply our definition of beauty.
I struggle with this superficiality alot. Still do. But I know our God does not look at the outward but a man’s heart. I wish to see things his way. Don’t get me wrong, I am not about to start looking for bad lookers…(you won’t want to label your future wife that anyway). But, perhaps whats wrong is that we are not looking deep enough. Inner beauty. Something that last more than 10 years without artificial enhancements. Something organic. Something that will flower with age rather than the reverse. Something full of life and abundance. Something that will bring joy and healing to those around. Something that will overcome the world’s prejudice with a power not of this earth. Somebody that reflects an image of Christ into our dull stupid eyes.

Arrived in Seoul this week on Thursday morning before rushing off to work. Its quite hard to communicate here…everyone speaks Korean and they don’t understand a single word of English. I think I look every bit like a korean Well, every Korean I meet start rattling off in Korean…it is so awkward when I reply back in Engish…

The food is excellent. Contrary to popular Singaporean opinion, there is actually quite a number of vegetable dishes. String mushrooms, seaweed, toufu and many other healthy stuff accompanies the main meal in great abundance. According to my colleague - Koreans don’t save on food. They always eat in excess, and pamper their guests to the fullest. Hence, side dishes are a must!

Seoul is a bustling city of 10 million, with a land area smaller than that of Singapore! Their subway is about 3 times the size and complexity compared to our local MRT system!! Amazing!!!

Would like to know the people here more. Till now, I know of no one except my colleagues. Perhaps it is good during my stay here to learn the korean language

horn please! That’s the word I see in the vehicles in India. And u can imagine the traffic culture - non stop horning cacaphony! Plus the bulls and cows walking side by side on the roads..poor dollies…they haven’t got much pasture to feed on. You see, cows are sacred to hindus..so they are let loose on old age rather than killed for their meat. But I think that’s a worse life for the cows man - poisonous traffic fumes, stagnant water and rubbish for food!

Had lunch with a colleague today and happen to ask him why Indian movies always having actors/actresses as well as whole villages dancing about. The answer he gave is really interesting. Indian movies are 3 hours long. To keep our attention in a sustainable way, there needs to be dancing…else things get a little mundane - Example:

1.Good guy fight against bad guy
2.Bad guy kidnap good guy’s girl friend and threatens her family
3.Good guy managed to turn tables around and defeat bad guy
4.Good guy marry the beautiful girl and live happily ever after
5.Moral of the story - good guys always win!

But in reality, the opposite is always true….until the kingdom of heaven approaches..hehe
Also, its really part of Indian culture to dance. I heard that people in Delhi sometimes emulate these movies. Yah…those “tree side popping”, “slope rolling”, “village gathering”, “hip dislocating” dance steps in the public gardens. Wonder how much of it is true man, would love to appreciate such culture and understand what makes India (or rather, Bollywood) ticks..

Am on the flight to exotic India now, though not for holiday but work! Spent 2 hours reading Divine Conspiracy and boy..my eyes are tired! The book is intellectual read..quite chim man…but essentially, the things it said, resonate deeply in my heart. Need to be cautious when one gets too ‘religious’. Else we will be like actors on stage - ‘hypocrites’ which are essentially actors in Herod’s fine theatres during palestine times.

One interesting point of note in the book is the debate of saving faith. Does a cognitive accent of Christ death mean heaven for us? Or is a absolute Lordship of Christ be a testament of real faith, and hence eternal life?