Language barrier

Interesting piece on the Korea Times site.

.... Being relatively new here with almost no understanding of the Korean language yet, he said traveling outside of Seoul was a challenge and adventure...

The U.S. expatriate apparently isn't the only one struggling with these problems, however, as the Korea Chamber of Commerce Industry (KCCI) said Tuesday that 35 percent of foreigners living here feel the same way.

Read full article at:

http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/03/123_41462.html

Why, thank you

DC: Kam sa hamnee-dar. It means thank you. But it's formal, according to our young Korean pal who's been helping us with translation in various situations, including signing up for mobile phones, and ordering pizza, our reward to him last night for the phone business. "Kam sa ham-needar is too formal," he said with a big grin after we climbed out of a taxi, whose driver I'd accorded far too much respect. "You don't need to use it. It makes you sound like you are not from Korea." Apparently, you'd use it if, say, you wanted to be extremely nice to the Korean cop who'd just pulled you over for speeding on our big highway to Seoul. Or to a judge or a doctor. "Ko map sumnee-dar. Means thanks. It's better," said our friend. "More casual. It's cooler."

Alphabet city

DC: I met the neighbour today. We were both waiting for the lift in our building. He's probably 4 years old. Huge saucer eyes, a pudding bowl haircut Dee Dee Ramone would have been proud of, and a back pack that sunk down to the back of his knees and seemed to fasten him to the spot. He gazed up .. and up and up at me, and I was forced to break the ice. Hi, you live here, what's your name? He didn't miss a beat, not a hint of shyness. "Hello. My English name is Edmund. My Korean name is ... " I didn't catch his Korean name. I was thinking of Black Adder. You just finished school? It was about 4.30 in the afternoon. "Yes." He's still staring up at the foreigner, he hasn't looked down yet. Where do you go to school? "I go to ABC hagwon." Hagwons are the schools many, maybe most, young Koreans attend after normal school each day to learn, in Edmond's case, obviously, to perfect, their English. We ride the lift together up to the fifth floor. He marches out ahead of me and takes a left. Doesn't look back. I go right. Have a nice day. "Have a nice day."