Hello from Phil in Gwang-ju--the Chumdan (sp?) part

Han-ghoul · Beginner Joined: Dec 15, 2007 Posts: 1

Hello and pangupsumnida (sp?)! Very Happy

I found this on Wikipedia! Despite the username, which thought was funny, I am a friendly, mild-mannered (unless you get me on politics or driving on the road, which I won't be), not-creepy looking guy (no white make-up, black nails, colored hair, goth clothes or such)--not to cast dispersions on the character of those who do--from Kansas, USA. I am mostly on here because my language CDs don't work and my translation dictionary does not help me when "ch" sounds like "j" and consonents we stress are superficially sounded in Korean and vice versa. I can't ask my colleagues about every word in the book. I am hoping for a more practical pronunciation of common phrases (like how "Kamsa hamnida" sounds like "kamsamnida" and "Anyoung haneseyo" sounds like "Anneseyo" ) and words and/or links to websites that offer that (with a formal American dialect--"ya" instead of "you"--so we are in sync with our pronunciation). I'm tired of the confused looks on people's faces when I try (S.) Korean, because I don't know what else to say.
I'm in Gwangju right now if someone wants to meet sometime. You can write to sievephile@gmail.com ( it's my name, phonebook style--Sieve, Phil E.--get it?) as well but say why you write in the subject space.

P.S. If you are Korean and you are not fluent in English, I wll try to adjust my writing for you. Students, don't kill yourself. God loves you and I love you! People have been so kind to m here so far and I want to be kind to you! If you fail your big test, you can go to America if you have the money to get here and become a good doctor or lawyer or whatever you want there (you probably would have to know English well enough to do that and you might be paying off loans all your life in those fields though, but it would be totally respectable--it's a second chance, anyway). I'm sure you can find Korean populations here for support--a Koreatown. It beats being dead or a minimart employee for life here, I'm sure. This is not to criticize your education system. Ours has problems of its own--especially a secular religion taught in colleges, big loans and a lack of discipline in elementary education, due mostly to a lack of moderation in response to harsh disciplinary measures of earlier decades, as well as communist-influenced values-indoctrination. With its faults, it's a second chance at a better life, though. Learn English and about the culture now or go to another country that offers opportunities and do the same in their language, though it could be more difficult unless you're already in college.

BTW I like to play hacky-sack, mad-libs, making bad puns and doing silly physical humor--kind of "Kramer-style", draw, and take nature photos.

I'm Roman Catholic, but I won't shove anything down your throat (like the origin of man, origin of the world and the associated eugenic-style population control, and other dogmas--the findings of science are meant to be fluid and open to total rethinking; not dogmatic, which actually stunts science--of the "scientific" religious community is shoved down the throats in schools in the world--see the last 3rd or 4th of Alex Jones's non-religious "Endgame" on Youtube.com for a better explanation of this) as I don't do well at evangelizing anyway. I might be concerned for you, but it would be stated in another context unless you want to talk religiously. I have other more pertinent forums for that discourse though. Thanks!

God bless you all!
Phil

spiv · Tourist Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 73

Duuude, I totally lived in 첨단! I'm back in Canada now, just got back from there about 3 months ago! Sweet! I didn't read your whole post but got excited when I saw 광주 and even more so when I read 첨단! How are you likin' it there? I heard it rained a few days ago: that's pretty weird. I was in Korean for two winters and it was pretty much like Canada for both. I miss the big red buses (Bus 9 goes to the 시내) and what else... Ah! So much. I loooved 첨단, it's a great place. If you're teaching English I might even know where your 학원 is! (I lived there for 6 months, by the way) 암튼, welcome aboard!