8th July 1986

This is the date when I arrived in Sweden at Stockholm airport.

I came here with another girl, her name was Soo Mee

and I was Eun Young.

We have kept our names although as a symbol of our Korean herritage-

We still keep in touch but haven´t seen each other in years.

Of what I remember it was nice having her as a friend growing up. Our families met a few times every year. We looked alike.

In the small community where I grew up there wasn't a lot of diversity but there was two other Korean girls and we were all friends and our parents had met through the adoption center.

Don't really know where I'm going with this entry but I found this picture earlier tonight and it just got me thinking about those years growing up.

I'm the one to the left and Maria to the right

Kimchi

Introducing Kimchi;

He'll move in with me 1 March, can't wait :)

24th

Today is my 24th birthday.

I wonder if they ever think of me during this day.

Korean Buddhism

I found a website about Korean Buddhism. I'm currently in college taking different courses in religious studies, which will be one of the subjects I'll be teaching in school after I graduate in the spring of 2011. I've only taken a course in Buddhism in general with no focus on the Buddhism practiced in Korea, which is why finding these articles made me happy :)

So anyway, take a look at these related articles on this site.

South Korean cram schools

In the interest of my future profession as a teacher.

I recently stumbled upon an article about the Korean "cram schools".

Compared to the Swedish school system (and probably that of other countries) the Korean cram schools seem completely crazy. The amount of pressure put upon each student who failed to get into college the first time they applied is unbelievable. To earn good money by the age of 50 in Korea you appearantly need higher education. So if a student fail to be accepted their first year, they apply for a cram school and when accepted they move to the school. Now, all their focus is on their studies, seven days/ week, 6:30 a.m. til past midnight. They are "forsaking the pleasures of teenage life", that is, magazines, girl/boyfriends, internet and television etc.

Appearantley college entrance exams determine 70-80% of someone's future. In Sweden, going to college is free and there aren't any entrance exams, except for some educations (although in many cases there should be some sort of exam to see if a person is suited for whatever they're applying for).

What really caught my attention in this article is the fact that suicide is the second most common cause of death among young people. Traffic accident is the most common one.

Anyway, take some time and read the entire article.

The Subway

In Seoul, the subway is the easiest and fastest way to get around. Reminds me of the London subway, however, if I'm able to remember the name of ONE station I'll be very proud of myself.

Point in case:

Eleven different lines to choose from, I'll probably pick my favorite color and see where I end up. Although I would like to go to Bukchon and look at the Hanok village - which is a village of traditional korean -style houses.

Renaissance art from Korea

I just came across this slideshow of pictures of Renaissance Art from Korea.

And here's the article to go with it "Treasures at a Korean Crossroad". Take a few minutes and read about the history of Korean art forms.