Abundance Found: Fivvee

It's another go around the Korean blogosphere. What crazy and wacky stuff will we find this time on Abundance Found? Let's see...

1. Plate Full of Onions: 

In this post they talk about this recent siting on a bus, that is questionably offensive. Certainly the imagery is eye catching but the after thought is a bit disturbing. Will Korean people equate this person with all westerners? Is that something really to worry about?

2. Tigers and Magpies:

 I got to this post by clicking on the category "bird watching" on their blog. Certainly, you might be surprised to know that you can do some kind of animal watching in this country that is rolled over with cement. These guys write well on traveling and also just the nuances in Korea, like the wildlife. Check out the post for more details and lovely pictures.

3. SoKo:

STREET GOLD~!

Since this blogger only posted a picture and no words I am just giving you a hint of what you will see when you click on the blog's name. Hint: It's very shiny.

4. Konglish Kids:

It's a part of life here, that is seeing in the distance the glowing neon of love hotels. My first place I lived at was very close to these and I enjoyed watching in the morning couples leaving and going their separate ways. Check the post for a fun opinion on the site of such "motels".

Another Abundance Found comes to a wrap...I wonder what we will discover next time?

Abundance Thinks: North Korea

It comes with the territory if you are en expat in Korea. That is living close to North Korea and even closer to the history and turmoil that people of both sides have faced. However, life trucks on in South Korea as if the North doesn't even exist. You hardly ever hear about it from colleagues at work, and usually it is just political news that carries on in the background.

Now and then, though the North and South will have a big clash and family back home get worried and call upon you to reassure them you are okay. Also, many bloggers use their writing forum to get out their worries or express to other people just how safe we are. Today's post is to show a few listings of folks who have written about North Korea and their experience with it.

1. I'm No Picasso: We'll start of with her blog as she can give great insight into this matter. Her post mainly touches on the shellings that occurred last year and how we can make sense of it all.

You have to understand --- this shit has been going on forever. And Koreans aren't really into airing their dirty laundry amongst foreigners, either.

Check the post for some very insightful thoughts.

2. Shotgun Korea: Speaking of the shelling incident this blogger team exposed how they were reacting to the situation. You can tell they weren't too worried, especially in the line...

The thing is, no one here (just on the street etc.) is freaking out, people are acting like nothing has happened, and as long as they’re doing that, we’re going to do it too.

This is exactly how I measure my proper reaction when such events occur. If South Korean folks aren't running around like crazy, than why should I?

3. 아름답다, ah-lum-dahp-dah:For some just being the observer is not enough, and getting involved is the drive. You can have the opportunity to teach North Koreans English here in the South and she got just the chance, and expressed her excitement...

I never imagined I'd ever get the opportunity to meet a North Korean, never mind teach them English! It would be stupid for me to pass something like this up.

Check the post out more for details and interesting views of this kind of work.

Whether you have been to the DMZ or had a long conversation about North Korea, the topic does come up and we all have to figure it out someday. Certainly, there are times when I think about how developed it is out here and there are people young and old with gadgets in their hands, and how up there people are living much-much differently. It reminds me of how grateful I am for my Korean life.

Abundance Aid: The Washing Machine

If you are an expat in Korea you would know that one of the most random things in your officetel-home is the washing machine. It comes in Korean and is also quite difficult to figure out. As I have lived in 4 different places here, I have had 4 different kinds of washing machines. At one place I even shared the laundry facilities with the people in my building.

This post of Abundance Aid is here to give you solace and help towards these confounded contraptions.

 1. Annyoung!: Sometimes as much as we think we know what we are doing we need a little help in the translation department. In this post they give us a good helping of translation and confidence to work our Korean washing machines.

A taste:

Programmed Settings
포준 - Standard
울 - Wool
란제리 - Lingerie 

2.  Bathhouse Ballads: Who else should know about laundry than the writer of Bathhouse Ballads. In this post you get to hear about how repairing such a machine can be a daunting task. "Despite the monthly fees, any breakdown can see me waiting up to two weeks for the required attention."

3. Karori to Korea: Often times just the first sight of your behemoth washing machine can be eventful. In this post they take you through a tour of their house and also a little view of their washing machine. Check the post for more.

4. Everyday Seoul: I am taking you into deep depths of the Kblogosphere now. This post found by random means and is dated, but can give you a nice snapshot. As you know, in Korea most people don't have dryers. That means you can get glimpses of laundry drying on rooftops or in doorways. Here is such an example.

It is fun to see how a common task in life can become a telling of culture. How have you met the task of doing laundry in Korea? Have you ever found yourself watching your machine spin on for hours and hours? I know I have. ;)