On My Way To Korea

Well, they finally did it.  The above is my second ‘ode’ to the ‘great leader’ in all his rocket glory.

North Korea announced that it would eventually launch a satellite into orbit, although it is believed this launch was going to be a test for a ballistic missile system.  Apparently the missile didn’t go into orbit after crashing into the Pacific Ocean.  According to the Korea Times, the North Korean government announced to it’s citizens that the launch was a complete success and that the satellite was orbiting and sending out signals.  Um, that might be hard to do from the bottom of the ocean … yet again I am baffled at how closed of a system the hermit kingdom is.

For more articles, check out the JoongAng Daily or the Digital Chosunilbo.

Source: Korea Times

It looks like the US FTA might pass soon, February at the earliest. I hope Barack Obama helps the agreement go through. I’ll probably be reading more about it this semester since I have to do a presentation in my business Korean class.

Image taken from “The Korea Times”

Koreans place a HUGE level of importance on tests. Once a year Koreans prepare to take the College Scholastic Ability Test which is like a super-SAT. How good you do on the test has huge implications on your future.

If you want to try to take a test the Korean way, you will have to:

1. Don’t eat seaweed soup (you’ll slip up on the test)
2. Not wash your hair (it’ll wash out your memory)
3. Ask everyone to go to work one hour later to clear the streets so you can calmly arrive at your test taking facility.
4. Ask drivers not to honk near schools
5. Stop all (commercial and military) takeoffs and landings during any listening exam
6. Ask underclassmen to basically be cheerleaders for the seniors (see picture above).
7. Send all the mothers to their churches to pray