By JAEMINARA LEE JUNE 01. 2014
How often do you get on a bus? What does a bus mean to you? Some buses are not just one type of transportation anymore. Let us go to figure out the character’s buses.
From last April, Tayo is the biggest issue for children. Tayo buses were drawn with character called ‘Tayo.’ Tayo means ‘Let us get on a bus!’ in Korean. It showed up on ‘EBS’ broadcasting animation program but it got huge refutation among children. Seoul city came up the idea to draw Tayo on a bus. That is the Tayo bus! The buses are divided to 4 colors, blue, red, yellow and green. These buses have different route following their color. So if you would like to get on all colored buses, you have to circle the city. The mothers who have children are very tired to check the timetable or route.
I do not live in Seoul city. So I went there to find out the bus. Fortunately, I found a blue Tayo bus in Jamsil station. I got on the bus because I was curious. To be honest, the bus was almost same as the normal ones except decorating inside with Tayo characters. However, children were crazy about that. I assume the reason is that they can see the character, which was in their imagination, in reality. I interviewed one cute kid who got on a bus. The kid said “ Tayo is my friend. I like this bus a lot. I want to get on Tayo every day. ”
When I was young, I watched ‘Thomas train’ filmed in the UK. I strongly wanted to get on the train at that time. The nationwide marketing to consider children’s innocence makes people see Tayo buses all the country beyond Seoul. Also wild driving of some bus drivers have been reduced because the buses have existed for children. Now Tayo is the icon of Korea. Go steady Tayo all over the world like Thomas train forever!
Are You Vegetarian?
By JAEMINARA LEE MAY 25. 2014
Have you ever met "A VEGETARIAN" in your life? In the western societies, there are many varied menus for vegetarians in all restaurants. They can order food for vegetarians not only in normal restaurant but also in hamburger or pizza stores. How is the situation going in Korea? Unfortunately, there is no food option for vegetarians. In addition to that, vegetarians are considered as strange ones if they order any dishes without meats. They are regarded as a minor group in Korea. Today I would like to let you know about vegetarianism in Korea.
Distinctions are made between different categories of veganism. The first level is a vegan. A vegan excludes any animal products such as meat, milk or even eggs. Most Korean thinks that all vegetarians are involved in this level. However, it is not popular among vegetarian’s groups as much as most Korean guesses because of the strict rules. Next level is a lacto-vegetarian who can consume dairy products. Buddhist monks in Korea are included to this level. The third level is a lacto-ovo-vegetarian who can take in dairy and eggs products. Most of the vegetarians all over the world are involved in this level. The fourth case is pesco-vegetarians who eat fish, fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables. Buddhist monks in Japan are included in this level. Last is semi-vegetarians who do not eat animals with four-footed and it implies they can eat chickens.
Why is it so difficult to find a Korean vegetarian? It is connected to Korean history and food culture. Korea was poor country before succeeding the rapid economic development. During the dark period, Koreans were only possible to eat vegetarian meals. Eating meat showed people I lived in plenty. People still have strong image that eating meat is a symbol of rich people although Koreans have achieved economic development. It would be one of the reasons why we cannot meet any single Korean vegetarian.
Things changed to enhance well-being. However, vegetarians still have many restrictions. From the economic perspective, vegetables cost more than meats. It is because food for vegetarians is only for minorities. The best example would be a buffet for vegetarians. The price is around between 12,000 won and 15,000 won. However, a buffet for meat only costs between 10,000 won and 13,000 won. These show special recognition of
Korean. Most Korean thinks “I will eat meat if I have to pay that price for
vegetables.” The special recognition is connected to Korean history which I
just mentioned. Therefore, a buffet for vegetarians is considered as just a
place to worth visit once for experience.
From a cultural point of view, Korean vegetarians would be discriminated. Korea where people emphasize the group’s decisions not individualism. For example, Koreans look like having almost same fashion and hairstyle. It is because of the priority of the group decision. In addition, diets are not the difference things. If someone claims to eat vegetable while other companions are eating meats, the person is regarded as odd. So it makes harder to expose vegetarian in a society and if someone express themselves as vegetarians, it would be a big issue.
I struggled myself to find vegetarians and it was not easy as I guessed. By the way, I finally found three vegetarians from India. They talked about their problems. Palak(Indian) said, “There are big differences about vegetarianism between Korean and India. It is not big deal in India. In Korea I can only take in Kimchi fried rice.” Gurvi(Indian) also revealed her feeling, “I also can eat only Kimchi fried rice and omelet rice. However, I always have to ask the waiters to remove any meat or ham which might be in." Verma(Indian) agreed with all of these opinions and said, “Me too. I am only possible to eat Kimchi fried rice and omelet rice.” While I was interviewing them, they all were eating very expensive Kimchi fried rice even though they were in an amusement park. They were not permitted sadly to eat even snacks in the park.
I found it very hard and tough to live as a vegetarian in Korea. However, I would like to say, “They are not wrong but just different from us.” Furthermore, I believe we had better to respect the differences, their choices. I am not a vegetarian and I could not force others to be vegetarians. However, all I want to say is just we cannot criticize them. Let us just think they are a bit different from us and respect them.
Man's Real Intention in a Coffee Shop
By JAEMINARA LEE MAY 12. 2014
Have you ever visited to a coffee shop with a man? Many people in Korea, especially women would love to go to the coffee shop. However, time has changed and men go to the coffee shop too, although the place is still strange for them. A man has a simple mind like a child in the place. He would be bored if he needs to stay in the coffee shop for a long time. The more active man, the stronger this tendency. However, women seem not to understand this man’s character at all. It is because that a man and a woman are different. Today I will show you man’s real heart in the coffee shop.
Usually Korean man sits uncomfortable side instinctually. It is a kind of manners for a woman, and the man has to have this manners. In other word, when a man and a woman go to the coffee shop, the man sits on the chair without cushion. The woman leans against the side of the cushions. However, a woman has to know that a man is also human who wants to sit comfortable side same as a woman.
Choosing coffee menu is tiresome work for a man. There are too many different type of coffee such as Espresso, Americano, Caffe Latte, Caramel Caffe Latte, Caffe Mocha, Mocha Chino, Cappuccino, Macchiato, Affogato, and plus fresh fruit juice, shakes, soft drinks. He cannot remember all of them. Just choose whether it has sweet taste or bitter. A man prefers instant coffee vending machine because the vending machine adjusts and keeps taste itself.
When a man sits and talks without moving in a coffee shop, he gets exhausted easily. On average, after 10 minutes, a man has already drunken half of the coffee. After 30 minutes, the man’s coffee is almost empty and he folds paper with half-closed eyes. In case of a smoker, after an hour passed, he feels withdrawal symptoms and cannot continue talking with a woman. However, a woman cannot understand his instinct and criticize him. Finally, they fight. A woman has to know that a man always focus on her if he is not in the coffee shop.
Until now, we looked into man’s real heart in the coffee shop. If a woman wants to go to coffee shop with a man, she has to remember that he is a child. If she talks his favorite topics like sports, game, car or asking his advice when he looks tired, the man is possible to enjoy spending a time in the coffee shop.