Seven different varieties of delectable Kimchi (Korean fermented side-dish)
New development in French language, expressing, in a "metaphor of opposition," "a form of political correctness expressing solidarity with and awareness of the immigrant community at a time of anti-immigrant politics."
Here in Hapjeong, I'm still broke. Get paid on Friday. So I'm watching much TV, sadly, after not having a tube in my house back stateside. 2 stations do the english here: Arirang (korean/english bilingual station, quite nice) and AFN (Armed Forces Network - US Military propaganda TV). AFN features the most heinous possible 'popular' programming peppered with delightful 'public service' commercials, such as one reminding soldiers not to make a beer bottle into a weapon in a bar brawl (it's an automatic felony in Korea) and one which, inexplicably, teaches army wives to bury their displeasure and/or anger:
First, a scene with the wife on the phone with the husband, who's working late. She's mad and yells at him. Then, she yells at her son to take his backpack off the kitchen counter. When she leaves to go run errands, the son smashes his backpack against the wall. Obviously Mom's fault.
voiceover So remember: don't take your anger out on your family. Here's a better way to deal with it...
Wife, cheerfully (on phone with husband, young son in kitchen): Working late again, honey? Don't worry, I'll warm up your dinner for you and make sure Bobby does his homework! (hangs up) Bobby, I'm going to the store, don't forget to do your homework...and...would you mind taking your backpack of the counter? (imploringly)
It's good to know that our 'service'men haven't lost their knack for insulting women. Obviously, there's no middle ground between verbal abuse and complete subservience... Speaking of which, I'm growing my hair back. I'm sick of getting crappy treatment by locals who think I'm a GI. I've been shaving my head for 10 years and now, thanks to the military (I've seen the GI's in action, they are incredible assholes here) I have to grow back the mop.
But on the brighter side, I went to a temple on the hill which offered an amazing 180 degree view of Seoul. This is a huge city.
I've read lately:
Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt : I turned against it the minute I read the Joyce comparisons on the sleeve. It's not a bad story, though, in a 19th century sorta way.
The Breast, Phillip Roth : lovely little novella, a strange Metamorphosis-pastiche, lovingly written meringue. It takes about an hour to read. Protagonist is David Kopesh, who, later in the trilogy muses: "Can I master the discipline of freedom as opposed to the recklessness of freedom? How does one turn freedom into a system?" What a guy.
A book about Alexander Pope. I don't remember what it's called, but it's okay. Pope doesn't interest me as much as he used to, unfortunately.
It's tough to get English books here without spending mucho, hence the McCourt. An 'intellectual' student of mine has floated me some loaners, too, to pass the time, but they're not really worth mentioning.
