1. Food and eating is very important in Korea. The word for "meal" and the word for "rice" are actually the same word -- and the same meaning to Koreans. What is a meal without rice? Also, a common greating near meal time is "Have you eaten?" It stems from during the war time when there was famine, and people were genuinely concerned about their friends and family, and if they had enough food to eat. The greeting is still used today, even though there is plenty of food now in South Korea. The traditional Korean style of eating is very communal. Typically everyone is served their own bowl of rice, but then everything else is a communal dish!! This usually means there is a large pot of soup, some dishes of whole fish (no, not fillets -- bones and heads intact), various vegetables, kimchi (of course), and maybe meat cooked on a grill. Everyone just digs in with their chopsticks and eats over their rice bowl. You do not have a plate where everyone dishes up their own portions onto a plate at the beginning and then eats -- you just grab it with your chopsticks -- don't worry about germs! Koreans use metal chopsticks and a large soup spoon as their utensils. When you go to a restaurant, these are not already set out on the table. Instead, you can find a small box sitting on the table, inside you will find chopsticks and spoons. The youngest person should set the table for the others -- hand them their chopsticks and spoon, with the points towards you and the handles towards them. Or else set the silverware down on the table -- chopsticks to the right of the spoon. Typically there will be a stack of small metal cups. The youngest should also pour the drinks for everyone. Koreans usually don't drink water with their meal. Instead they might have "cida" = sprite, soju = Korean alcohol, or nothing. Then they wash it all down with a swig of water at the end. Sometimes there aren't even cups -- then you pour the water into your rice bowl after it is empty, and drink from that. When handing drinks to everyone, be sure to use both hands or at least your right hand. If you only use your right hand, however, your left hand must be "symbolically" used: touch your left hand to your right wrist, elbow, or near arm pit to show respect. You won't find regular napkins at the table either -- instead you will find a small box of mini, non-absorbant napkins. If you need one, ask someone to pass a "huji"=tissue to you. Be sure not to blow your nose at the table -- this is one of the most rude things to do, and will typically cause Koreans to use their appetite (so I've been told). Koreans sit on the floor while eating (although, at home we eat at a table). This can get uncomfortable after awhile, but at least they give you thin cushions for your tushi! Dessert, if there is any, usually consists of fruit and/or tea.
The black pot covered by the plate with the orange peel on it is the soup pot. The silver dishes (in the lower left corner, and again in the middle of the table, for example) are the individual rice bowls. You can see the variety of side dishes scattered throughout the table -- this is typical of a traditional style Korean meal, especially at a restaurant. They do not have this many dishes for every meal at home, but do for special occasions -- like Chuseok!2. Korean Educational System
I will do my best to *briefly* explain this system, although it is very different from our own. Grades matter here. Easily put. Everything about Education is managed by the Korean Education Committee (I think that is the name) -- from school hours, to courses offered, to how many slots are available for universities. The system is very competitive -- getting good grades in elementary school gets you into a good middle school, which can get you into a good high school. If you have a good high school you are more likely to do better on the college entrance exam (held only once a year). If you receive a high score, you will get into a good university (or one of the top 3 universities, nicknamed "SKY" -- Seoul, Korea, and Yonsei Universities). Getting into a good unversity means that you will easily make connections and have a successful career, not that you will learn a lot at college. Korean high school students study their butts off, literally. Then, when they get to college, they learn how to relax. They don't study hard, and college grades don't matter. Rather, it's just the college name that matters -- I find this very sad, indeed.
My high school students have to be at school every day from 7:50am-9:50pm. From 8-9 they have "self study", normal classes are from 9-5, with a lunch break from 1-2. Then from 5-6 they have a supplementary class, then dinner break until 7, and then from 7-10 is night class -- this period might be self-study, I'm not exactly sure. This, of course, leaves high school students with no spare time for extra-curriculars. They even have to go to school on the "odd" weekends every month -- that is the first, third, and fifth (if applicable). Many high school students are up until 3 am studying each night and then likely get up around 6 or 7 to be at school on time. It is no wonder they are tired and bored in school! Also, students wear school uniforms, starting in middle school.
Elementary school and middle school are not quite as intense with the schedules, but grades are important. (On my previous post, I mentioned that my older host brother told me a few years ago his exams scores averaged 90, and as punishment he couldn't use the family computer for 4 months -- he is only in 6th grade this year) My host brothers have school starting at 8:30 and getting done at 3:30. Then they both go to "hagwon" =private institutions (cram schools) until 6pm every day (M-F). My oldest host brother goes to hagwons for math and piano. The younger one goes to Hagwon for Taekwondo, but might be starting one for English also. As they get older, the number of Hagwon's they will attend will likely increase, as they prepare more and more for the college entrance exam (yes, they prepare years in advance -- they are already preparing!)
School subjects include Korean history, Korean language, mathematics, English, geography, potentially a 3rd language (German/Chinese/Japanese), science, PE, art, music. The 3 subjects stressed on the college entrance exam are Math, English, and Korean language -- so these are their 3 most important subjects. Unfortunately for me, their English study is all geared around the test -- which does not include a speaking component. So, they study grammar and vocabulary, but don't know how to actually use it or speak! That is why native speakers are so important here -- many Korean English teachers don't have good English speaking abilities themselves, let alone their students.
As for more into the daily lives of my host brothers, usually when they get home from school at 6 they do their homework, then we have dinner around 7 or 7:30 and then they finish their homework afterward. They then watch tv/free read until bedtime, which is around 10pm -- the same bedtime for me and the parents. They were shocked when I told them my bedtime was 8:30 when I was their age! :-) There is one TV in the house, so we all sit in the living room together after dinner watching TV/playing UNO with the boys/free reading/eating grapes. Typically friends don't come over and play too often, although I've seen the younger one have a friend over for short periods of time a few times. Occasionally, the older one will meet up with friends outside for an evening game of soccer. He also has spent the night at a friend's house once in the time I have been here. When the older one had his birthday, there was no birthday party -- instead we went out to dinner at his favorite restaurant. When I showed them pictures of my cousins' birthday parties, the parents were shocked to see so many friends over for the party. So, I take it that means birthday parties aren't common here!
As far as the Education System goes here -- many people are not happy with it, rightfully so. The students and teachers are overworked. Students lack creativity, as all their effort goes to preparing for the college entrance exam. Students lack free time to pursue their hobbies and enjoy being a kid. Many people want the system to change, and think it will eventually. But when I ask people (teachers, students, parents) how they think it will/could change, they have no concrete answers. I think the system will change, eventually, but who knows how soon.
Anyway, I'm going to enjoy my day off and get away from the computer for a bit! Have a great day everyone and hope you found this interesting.
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