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From the very first day to my last day in
Korea I wrote diary. Now I have a 270-page-Wordfile with lots of
memories that cannot be forgotten anymore. A computer is a much better
data storage system than my brain, that's why I'm really glad to have
done this sometimes nerving duty. Another
driving force for me was that my friends and family could share my
experience in this exciting culture. Anyway,
it won't be of much interest for you because it's in German. So I will
pass the word to Michael Breen, who wrote the book "The Koreans".
That's what he says:
About Koreans in general: |
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"The stereotypical Korean is a materialistic
Shaman-Confucian-Buddhist-Christian."
"Koreans are not taught political theories, as such.
They learn facts."
"The Koreans have a way of upsetting you and getting
into your heart at the same time."
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About Korean dishes: |
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"This contradiction is nicely symbolised for me by the way
in which I grew to like Korean cuisine. The first time I was
confronted by a soup in a korean restaurant, I found it was too
salty and spicy, and full of murky items which for all I knew
had been dropped in by a mistake. I was glad my host did not
reveal the contents. [...] The proud master of these sidedishes
was a tight roll of what could have been passed for used
bandages. [...] So this was Kimchi."
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About old habits: |
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"South Korea is the fifth most densely populated country in
the world. Consider, too, that 70 per cent of ist land is
uninhabitable mountain, and add the tendency to crowd into
cities, where people seem to live on top of each other. Even
modern, organised, hygienic Korea still strikes me as a crowded,
jumbled mess. Big jars storing kimchi and other food, which used
to be buried in plots by the farmhouse, and other junk litter
the balconies of modern apartments, rubbish is placed outside on
the street where the garbage man comes along daily with ist
handcart to carry it off. Kitchens and storerooms spill out into
the dining areas of restaurants. Workshop and garages tumble
across the pavement into the streets. Shopkeepers pile box upon
box of produce on to the shelves without regard for
merchandising and stack their empty crates in front of their
windows on the pavements."
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He speaks out of my mind. Korea is the
country with most contradictions I ever visited. But that may be the
point of interest for foreigners, to get to know the mind of the people.
For all who want to read the whole book, here are the datas: Michael Breen: The Koreans
Orion Books
London 1998 |
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