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nounplusverb
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Name: David
Country: South Korea
Metro: Seoul
Birthday: 11/11/1983
Gender: Male
Interests: how to say things (language) and how to say them well (literature)
Expertise: the syntax of things
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message me
Member Since:
3/31/2005
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| See my other blog (http://thelastsyllable.blogspot.com)
-David
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| "Hither," in this case, means my new blog. I just added an updated schedule of events and happenings in my life. You should check it out. There are also 1) some investigative journalism (not mine) and 2) an updated map of the Pacific rim, including important new cartographical discoveries (mine).
So, let's tally up the pros and cons
PROS:
1) David, professional blogger
2) You get to read my updated itinerary
3) You get to see a picture taken (not by me) in Korea
4) You get to learn about the latest in cartography
CONS:
Well, there you have it. The only choice left is whether to use Netscape, IE, or Firefox. I'm voting for Firefox.
-David
PS - My old cell phone is broken, so please let me know if you want my new cell phone number.
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| It hardly seems worth mentioning, but there's another blog now. It set sail a few minutes ago under a calm sky and a brisk wind.
Why another blog? I've built five or six now in my life, and most of them haven't made it out of the harbor, let alone caused any waves or opened up new horizons.
You see, the blog I've been maintaining for the past couple years has gotten caught in the doldrums. It's not just the blog, though. Sure, there's no wind in the sails and the anchor's dragging, but I think the real problem is in the captain. He just hasn't had it in him lately to go new places and challenge himself in choppy waters.
He's also very aware that his nautical metaphor is, well, about to run aground.
My point is that I haven't been writing very much, or very well. Somehow I haven't been inspired. Or is that honest? I haven't been motivated (that's the right word) to do much, and I need to find a topic that will set the wheels spinning, or the juices flowing, or the engine turning, or... well.
That topic is going to be language. What else is there anyway? And more specifically, it's going to be the Korean language. As you probably know, that's what I've been studying for the past year (among other things). I'm going back to Korea to study it much more intensively, so the blog will be a way not only to chronicle my learning experience but also to facilitate it, perhaps by giving me an outlet for translation and reflection. I'll use it to organize the internet resources I've found. Maybe it'll even connect me with some other like-minded students of the language.
So don't expect this old ship to get much sailing from here on out. I'll keep it around to keep in touch, maybe linking to my other blog every now and again.
If you wanna join my crew, I'm always ready to hire a keen explorer: all aboard at http://thelastsyllable.blogspot.com
-David
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| Yesterday, I went to the Korean church in town. I say the because I'm pretty sure there isn't another one. This one isn't really a church so much as a service housed in a big Presbyterian church (and I'm not interested in a discussion of the meaning of the word "church"). I'd been there once before, a week before I went to Korea. I came back to find the same faces and the same hymnals. The main difference: I could understand some of the Korean this time.
At the end of the service, after the prayers were prayed and the sermon sermoned, there was one last song. With some confusion, I caught a bit of the instructions to do something in pairs and noticed everyone turning to the person sitting beside them. And then they raised their hands as if they were preparing to play "patty cake patty cake."
Clap your hands four times and say "Goo goo pall pall ."
Clap hands with your partner three times and say "Eeh Sahm Sah."
If you've studied Korean, you'd know that "goo" means 9, "pall" 8, "eeh" 2, "sahm" 3, and "sah " 4. In other words,
99 88 234.
What is this unlikely series of numbers? A phone number? Or a lottery number?
Better yet, it's a set of puns. And at the same time a superstitious little chant. And perhaps a nursery rhyme or a junior high jingle.
"Pall pall" means 88 but it also means "full of energy." So, they explained to me, it means live full of energy till you're 99 years old.
"Sah" means both 4 and death (which is why a lot of Korean elevators have "F" for "Four" instead of 4). So the second part of the chant means get sick for 2 or 3 days and then pass away.
What place does a little rhyme like this have in church, an institution relying on a scripture composed thousands of years ago and claiming the authority and power of God?
What place do I have, a Caucasian and fluent speaker of English, in a Korean church?
I expect next week they'll be singing 9988234 again. And I expect I'll be there singing it too.
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| To Amy, Luke, Dr. Pastoor, Dr. Himes, Rachel, Owen, Josh, Jason, Ryan, Henry, Quentin, Dave, and Evie:
Thanks for helping me have a great time in NW Arkansas!
To everyone else:
Sorry we didn't have a chance to hang out.
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A historian and reporter that I had a couple drinks with one time has written a fascinating article on the last American defector to North Korea.
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