A Beginner’s Mind Posted by Linda on Dec 1, 2011
“Why are you learning Korean? You.” This question haunts me. As a second generation Korean-American who learned how to speak Korean by osmosis from my Korean mother’s small conversations and language leaks amongst her family and friends, I am insecure about my “Korean-ness”. Our stereotypical society expects me to know about Korean culture, food, and…
Korean Sweets: Sukshilgwa Posted by Ginny on Oct 3, 2011
There is a type of Korean confectionary called Sukshilgwa (숙실과) that refers to sweets that are made by using fruits that have been heated and then coated with sweeteners like honey or sugar. Sukshilgwa literally means ‘cooked fruits’, which is basically what sukshilgwa is. It is a traditional Korean sweet that used to be presented…
Naengmyeon Posted by Ginny on Sep 29, 2011
Sometimes you just get a craving for something light, refreshing but yet filling. Korean cold noodle is just the thing to satisfy that craving. One type of Korean cold noodle is Naengmyeon (냉면). Naengmyeon can be served with a cold broth, in which case the dish will be called Mul naengmyeon (물냉면). Mul naengmyeon is…
School Bell Song Posted by Ginny on Sep 27, 2011
There’s an old Korean children’s song called 학교종, which means ‘school bell’. It’s a song about teaching kids that when the school bell rings, it’s time to start class. Korean people take their children’s education seriously. Although the song is sweet, cute and short enough for kids to remember, there’s a serious message underlying the…
South Korean Museums Posted by Ginny on Sep 23, 2011
There are so many ways to experience and see traditional Korean culture at work. One of the ways is to visit a museum in Korea, one like the Museum of Straw and Plants Handicraft (짚풀생활사박물관) in Seoul (서울). I love seeing all the things that can be made with straw. I once saw these boots…
Natural Monuments of South Korea Posted by Ginny on Sep 20, 2011
South Korea is a beautiful country with many flora and geological formations. There are several Natural Monuments (천연기념물) of South Korea that are popular among tourists. One of these places is the Natural Habitat of Crinum Lily in Gujwaeup (제주 토끼섬 문주란 자생지). Crinum Lilies are white flowers that bloom from July to September on…
Hanbok Posted by Ginny on Sep 15, 2011
Hanbok (한복) is the name for a type of traditional Korean clothing. In particular the hanbok for ladies has changed over the decades. Take for example the jeogori (저고리), which is the upper garment of the woman’s hanbok that covers the entire length of the arms and the upper body. In the early part of…