tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.comments2023-05-01T20:06:21.012+09:00Kristin's Korean -er- Californian LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-45573699085796872622018-08-28T06:49:11.405+09:002018-08-28T06:49:11.405+09:00Excellent post. I work for a Korean company and at...Excellent post. I work for a Korean company and athletic toothbrushing is hysterical. I've tried to explain it to those who've not witnessed it and they don't believe me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-90962865457507902312017-10-26T05:32:40.271+09:002017-10-26T05:32:40.271+09:00Hey, I like your blog a lot, because right now, I ...Hey, I like your blog a lot, because right now, I am planning to move to Korea too, and I am searching for some help and counseling in this area. So, did you find this hand-held translator, and if you did, did it help you at all?<br /><br />Thank you!<br />-AnnaAnna Petiukhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-22184383166945841232017-10-22T10:10:51.346+09:002017-10-22T10:10:51.346+09:00My very strong opinion about Trump is that his tea...My very strong opinion about Trump is that his team found out which of the Democrats in the Electoral College were hock deep in debt and offered to pay off their debt in order that they would cast their vote for Trump.<br /><br />Politicians are good at spending money. It doesn't matter if they are Republican or Democrat. And if they are close to my age or younger then they were also good at racking up debt. This is true of most Americans regardless of whether they are registered voters or not.<br /><br />To be conservative used to mean conservation of resources regardless of whether it was environmental resources, financial resources, or any other kind of resources. But now, it seems the two political USA parties have done a flip flop. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, after all.<br /><br />I sometimes feel surreal, as if I had woken up one day in an alternate "timeline". For one thing, the so called liberal media always seemed to be harping about Obama's place of birth, his religious beliefs, and his Harvard grades. Wasn't he considered a liberal President?<br /><br />And then I discover the Fox news network and the Glenn Beck Show and realize that compared to that, the basic free news channels really were liberal in comparison.<br /><br />The words that came out of Glenn Beck's mouth were so hateful and ridiculous that it was hard to believe I was not watching a satiric comedy political show if it weren't for the fact other people were treating him as a real political influencer. I later learned other liberals were watching him for amusement also.<br /><br />Over 20 years ago I worked on a special audit team for Regence Blue Shield in Tacoma, Washington. A woman asked me for two see through Post It bookmark stickers. Back then they were only made in one width. I pulled one out of its case, cut it in half with some scissors, and gave both halves to her. Now they make them in different widths and colors.<br /><br />Someone told me Hillary Clinton had won the popular vote. This speaks to the optimism the general registered voter public felt about her. After all, she forgave her husband for adultery. Perhaps she could put a more human compassionate face on the USA presidency than ever before. I mean, can you imagine Donald Trump forgiving Melania if he ever found out she had given another man oral sex after they got married? I don't think so!<br /><br />Most Americans who survived the 1930's Great Depression are dead now. They said things like, "If you can't afford it then do without it" as well as "Waste not, want not". It was both Democrat and Republican who said things like that. It was both registered voter and non-voter who said those things. It was both white American and black American who said that and anyone who didn't fit inside either category.<br /><br />It was said of white Republicans that they didn't like Obama because he had a black daddy and that black Republicans didn't like him because he has a white mom.<br /><br />Chinese born actress, Joan Chen, correctly said that race and color does matter and that we should talk about it rather than ignore the problem.Joomi Lee aka Joo-Mi Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-50283040197405839072017-10-21T13:02:01.461+09:002017-10-21T13:02:01.461+09:00All numbers are finite to Jehovah but not to Jesus...All numbers are finite to Jehovah but not to Jesus and the other finite Immortals that followed him. This is one reason but not the only reason God can predict the beginning from the finale.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-69260114917615913642017-10-21T12:56:28.697+09:002017-10-21T12:56:28.697+09:00Part 2 of rereading response:
So I am going to as...Part 2 of rereading response:<br /><br />So I am going to assume that you now know about location detection and why your work computer sent you to Singaporean homepages.<br /><br />I love the line, "A tiny raindrop connected to you."<br /><br />I have never tried dog meat but I am sure different cuts of meat from a dog's body will taste differently from one another and that a vegetarian dog will taste differently from an omnivore dog and that a chihuahua might taste differently from a German shepherd. It is like how I prefer pork chops over roast beef from a cow and am willing to pay more for pasture raised beef and dairy than for CAFO, factory hormone injected, cow stuff.<br /><br />My mom once told me she had eaten dog meat before and she had a good laugh over my reaction to that tidbit.<br /><br />I have described Koreans as the Irish or Italians of the East, the Japanese as the British or Germans of the East, and the Chinese as the Americans of the East. I know this is a broad overview and that exceptions exist just as they do for other generalizations.<br /><br />Home really is where the heart is.<br /><br />There was an Old Testament Bible writer who wrote that he felt a loathing for his own sins even though compared to other ancient Israelites he was considered a righteous man.<br /><br />The New Testament Bible says we should not compare ourselves to others but this good advice is very hard to follow.<br /><br />I ate traditional holiday food for Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday. My younger cousin was shocked because we were both active Jehovah's Witnesses back then. He tried to explain to me why I was wrong to eat what I did but I just didn't get it back then. Jehovah's Witnesses avoid patriotic holidays becuse they have members all over the world and are supposed to view themselves as members of God's kingdom first and foremost. The celebration of patriotic holidays is considered divisive.<br /><br />My younger sister and I are Irish twins, siblings who are less than 12 months apart. We were both born in March.<br /><br />I think Krispy Kreme donuts are gross!<br /><br />I think anything else I could have typed you already know about.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-19989609551380930022017-10-21T12:55:42.024+09:002017-10-21T12:55:42.024+09:00Part 1 of rereading response:
I reread some of yo...Part 1 of rereading response:<br /><br />I reread some of your words recently and was not too surprised at how forgetful I was although I did remember that you are funny and know more about Korea than I do.<br /><br />These are some of my reactions and I apologize if you've seen these words before.<br /><br />Have you heard of the non-profit Dress For Success? Most major metropolitan cities have a chapter giving nice interview outfits to women who can't afford to buy their own. Many of them are escaping domestic violence situations. They also lack the education, skills, and experience that you have in abundance and they could sure use some life skills coaching from you.<br /><br />There really is more happiness in giving than in receiving.<br /><br />Random out of order thought reactions to some of your posts:<br /><br />I like a few Incubus songs but have not felt compelled enough to buy any of their songs either off iTunes or amazon. Usually, if I buy a digital download song it is because I am willing to play it on repeat quite a few times.<br /><br />I love your New Year's post of 2009 where you type, "I resolve to make other people happy in a way that doesn't make me unhappy anymore". This would make a great T-shirt logo on etsy.com.<br /><br />I have never celebrated my own birthday even before my parents became Christians of the Jehovah's Witness variety. I do remember them celebrating my younger brother's first or second birthday. My dad's best friend explained to me that Korean males celebrate two birthdays. The first one is to celebrate that they survived the first year of life and didn't succomb to any death dealing illness. The second one was to celebrate his senior life and retirement. Presumably he had been blessed with grandsons by then.<br /><br />One Seoul taxi driver tried to get away with not giving me my full change after we arrived at my destination. He finally gave me my change with a snort of disgust and said something insulting to me in Korean. That's how good my broken Korean was back then.<br /><br />It also bothered me that Korean pedestrians would bump into me on the busy sidewalks but the airline hostesses did the same thing on the Koreana/Asiana air flight! Even if Koreans are communal the Cambodians are even more so. I felt that if "Maria", a local donut store worker, ever could compare her Cambodian family immigrant upbringing with mine then she would agree with me.<br /><br />I hope you write that book with an emphasis on humor since our depressing world needs a good laugh.<br /><br />I have met Korean women married to men that serve(d) in the USA military. Perhaps the husband knows how to say hello or thank you in Korean but that is pretty much it. The wife typically speaks enough English that I don't have major problems understanding her.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-68797031173368409862017-09-26T07:01:06.905+09:002017-09-26T07:01:06.905+09:00My mom claims my symptoms are worse around my peri...My mom claims my symptoms are worse around my periods. You may want to track your periods on a calender to give your husband a heads up that he show you extra loving concern during those difficult days.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-73722002482801549782017-09-20T13:51:28.558+09:002017-09-20T13:51:28.558+09:00If anyone knows I'm remembering these studies ...If anyone knows I'm remembering these studies (or any other study I've mentioned online) incorrectly you are more than welcome to correct me.<br /><br />:-)Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-46902744645768340932017-09-20T13:49:23.358+09:002017-09-20T13:49:23.358+09:00September 19, 2017
Dear Kristin,
I have a tenden...September 19, 2017<br /><br />Dear Kristin,<br /><br />I have a tendency to repeat myself so I apologize to you if you have already seen these words before.<br /><br />I used to visit various libraries on random occasion and read the magazine articles that caught my eye. One dealt with a gender difference study. It was very interesting. Most women rate their appearance lower than other people rate them but most men rated their appearance higher than other people rated them.<br /><br />This speaks to an important difference between men and women. The average woman compares herself to women she deems more attractive than herself whereas the average man compares himself to other men that he thinks look worse than he does.<br /><br />This gender difference principle can also be applied to resumes that men and women submit. The average man brags and inflates his work successes and accomplishments whereas the average woman downplays what she accomplished or is rather matter of fact about what she did career-wise.<br /><br />Having said this I can also say that the women are catching up to the men and I don't mean that in a good way.<br /><br />For example, in the old days if a Christian couple of the Jehovah's Witness variety got divorced people in the congregation assumed it was because the husband had committed adultery. Sure enough, there would be a disfellowshipping announcement regarding the (ex-)husband's name. Nowadays it could be that the wife is just as likely to have been guilty of adultery so the disfellowshipping announcement could be equally about either (ex-)wife or (ex-)husband.<br /><br />The reason I put the “ex-” in parenthesis is because an announcement could be made either before or after the divorce is finalized.<br /><br />I used to live in Washington State. I had read a newspaper report about a follow up study that was done on patients that were released from Western State Hospital. They only put the worst of the worst of mentally ill patients here. To give you some perspective, a shrink interviewed me and determined I was not qualified to be hospitalized at Western State Hospital. I was therefore sent to a “regular” (whatever that means) mental ward/hospital.<br /><br />Roughly one third of released patients got better on their own. The second third stayed the same with or without Western psychiatric medications. The bottom third got worse no matter what psych med cocktail they were put on. I am sure you can see what this implies for pharmaceutical companies.<br /><br />I believe psych meds are like placebos but with serious negative side effects. Perhaps you feel your psych meds help stabilize you. I am of the opinion the reason they have that effect is because the average patient is placed on too high a dosage with sedative side effects as a result. The sedation may be accompanied by sleepiness and grogginess. Many patients falsely attribute a feeling of calm because of the sedation but I think you will agree with me that true calm is not the same thing as sedation.<br /><br />If you feel you must continue to use psych meds then please take the lowest dose possible. That way you can still have the placebo effect with the least amount of negative side effects.<br /><br />Best-Joomi Lee aka Joo-Mi EJoo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-83867664369373164122016-09-15T10:38:50.590+09:002016-09-15T10:38:50.590+09:00Sigh. Well, this whole topic makes me feel tired. ...Sigh. Well, this whole topic makes me feel tired. I'm gonna take a break now.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-46718444196175577142016-09-15T10:34:10.461+09:002016-09-15T10:34:10.461+09:00My siblings and I also did not consider the fact t...My siblings and I also did not consider the fact that my mom had an uncle that worked for the Korean Embassy in New York and is well connected in many other ways as well.<br /><br />If it weren't for the fact that my mom has been a baptized Christian of the Jehovah's Witness variety since 1975, the above mentioned fact (that she has many friends who were or are married to ex-US soldiers) wouldn't be true.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-40876454350022944982016-09-15T10:32:11.151+09:002016-09-15T10:32:11.151+09:00My younger siblings and I would sometimes complain...My younger siblings and I would sometimes complain about how proud and arrogant our mom can be sometimes but this is because we made the mistake of comparing her to American born women her age when we really should have been comparing her to Korean born women her age.<br /><br />Compared to them she is very egalitarian. She has many friends that were or are married to ex-US soldiers.<br /><br />I once asked my aunt if she had any friends like that and she scowled and said no. She does have one friend with a white husband but I'm pretty sure his Korean is not only way better than mine but also somewhat better than yours since they have been married for decades and they met while they were both attending the same South Korean University together. In other words, he was a foreign exchange student, not one of those Ugly American US soldiers. That's why this Korean woman is an exception to my aunt's rule.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-11913845140913308242016-09-15T10:21:45.206+09:002016-09-15T10:21:45.206+09:00I do quite a bit of random channel surfing, includ...I do quite a bit of random channel surfing, including all the Asian channels that are available to me one hour east of Los Angeles.<br /><br />I've only seen 2 tan skinned Korean actresses hired for those Korean dramas and they both had very small parts. The first one was exceptionally beautiful. The second one was cast in a villain role. Both were historical costume dramas, not the modern day soap operas.<br /><br />The bank I would deposit my teacher's salary hired only white skinned female tellers and they were all tiny except for one. She was around my height and weight but her skin was translucent pearly white.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-43468209970032795652016-09-15T10:16:07.336+09:002016-09-15T10:16:07.336+09:00In California a few years go I met a BAA looking m...In California a few years go I met a BAA looking male householder who told me his Korean mom was also one of Jehovah's Witnesses and that his dad was an ex-US soldier.<br /><br />He said he liked Korean food but only knew how to cook Cajun Soul food of the kind his dad exposed him to. He also told me he never joined the Jehovah's Witness religion after he grew old enough to make up his own mind.<br /><br />That's when I shared with him my memories of the Korean sister with 2 daughters. I also explained to him that South Koreans are very xenophobic (definition?) and that white skinned Korean actresses are much preferred over tan skinned women like me. I am built like my dad and I look like my dad. In other words, I look like a farm girl or village girl.<br /><br />He surprised me by accepting my "Watchtower" magazine offer for that month. I guess honesty really is the best policy.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-39749595294331298502016-09-15T10:11:31.149+09:002016-09-15T10:11:31.149+09:00Of course, this is not the first mixed race Korean...Of course, this is not the first mixed race Korean-BAA couple that I've met but it is the only one I considered genuinely happy and normal and balanced.<br /><br />Korean-BAA couples are very rare. What is more common are Korean-white couples. I'm sure you can understand why.<br /><br />I once knew a white skinned Korean sister who had married a BAA US soldier. Her oldest daughter looked like her dad. She had very dark skin. Her younger daughter had white skin like her mother. This Korean mom showed strong preferential treatment for her younger daughter over her older daughter.<br /><br />Both daughters are now around your age. Neither one joined the Jehovah's Witness religion.<br /><br />In defense of their mom I would like to say that she was born and raised in South Korea. That's where she met her husband. She became one of Jehovah's Witnesses after she married her husband.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-80597186914223853242016-09-15T10:06:02.425+09:002016-09-15T10:06:02.425+09:00Hi Kristin,
I'm commenting on your posts out ...Hi Kristin,<br /><br />I'm commenting on your posts out of order because I printed your posts out of order but I'm OK with that because I'm pretty sure you can handle that.<br /><br />Even though I read most of your posts and comments I have a lousy memory too. This means I'm not sure you ever spent any time in Itaewon. This is the district of choice for mixed race couples (Korean & foreigner) especially during night time and weekends.<br /><br />I visited Itaewon 2 or 3 times a week because back then I was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and attended the Seoul English congregation which was located in the middle floor of a tall city building.<br /><br />Like you, I was surprised that they provided cloth slippers for everyone who attending meetings there. I can't remember if they had carpet or hardwood flooring. Most likely it was not carpet because I remember feeling great surprise at those cloth slippers!<br /><br />You see, I had already been teaching ESL at a middle school for a while so I knew that everyone expected me to wear "slippers" instead of my street shoes inside the school building. I just did not see the point of it because all the flooring inside the school was some kind of tile or vinyl. Only once did I wear my street shoes inside the school. One of my boy students stared in great shock at my street shoes! He must have reported me because one of my co-workers ended up talking to me about it. That was the last time I did that.<br /><br />It was here that I met a one of those rare happy mixed race families. The wife was about my age and very tan skinned and pretty. Her husband was a dark skinned black African-American. Their cute and adorable children looked more like her than they did him but their big round eyes and easy to brush wavy hair came from him.<br /><br />After I first met this sister's husband I wrongly thought he was one of those mild and kind elders that I do meet every once in a while here and there. Imagine my surprise that he wasn't even baptized yet. He explained to me that he was hoping to get discharged from the military first.<br /><br />There's always a first time for everything, isn't there?Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-43289307215346009822016-09-12T18:40:22.819+09:002016-09-12T18:40:22.819+09:00If I ever say things like, "Jesus F---ing Chr...If I ever say things like, "Jesus F---ing Christ!" or "S--- F---ing Christ!" it is usually a male of some kind that provoked me to yell that OUT LOUD! Right now I can't think of a single female that ever provoked me to such a point that I would blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ himself.Joo Mihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290009208909543649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-53383792134393507882016-08-18T19:48:48.762+09:002016-08-18T19:48:48.762+09:00They had different ways of cleaning their teeth. T...They had different ways of cleaning their teeth. Too much force when brushing the teeth can cause damage to enamel. Visiting <a href="http://cosmosmilesdental.com" rel="nofollow">arlington va dentist</a> or any other dentist for dental care is also important for continuous dental health care.8sme7776https://www.blogger.com/profile/08106385227285847192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-87667887244113010192016-05-23T17:38:01.660+09:002016-05-23T17:38:01.660+09:00It took me a long time because I usually just moni...It took me a long time because I usually just monitor comments to make sure they're not spam, but I just embedded the infographic. Thank you; it's very helpful!Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01689362118313047815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-33971036782888345652016-02-05T17:26:52.044+09:002016-02-05T17:26:52.044+09:00It is because of the food in Korea. There are lots...It is because of the food in Korea. There are lots of chilli flakes and seaweeds being eaten in everyday Korea. And sometime these chilli flakes an seaweeds get stuck in their teeth. Moreover Kimchi and some Korean dishes contain lots of garlic, that is why it smells after eating them. <br />These are the probable reasons why Koreans tend to brush teeth a lot to get rid of the smell and the chilli flakes or seaweed. <br />This brushing teeth practice has become a habit to most Koreans.<br />Actually it doesn't mean that their teeth are any better than us foreigners. It's just a habit but I know that it's become too over when some people in Korea even brush like 4 to 5 times a day...They are crazy and when they do something, it's always overboard and are feeling proud of it as if the rest of the world do not care about dental health.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16477995687500904620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-66640914349517841232015-11-03T22:01:36.965+09:002015-11-03T22:01:36.965+09:00Hi,
First off, I came across your site and wanted...Hi,<br /><br />First off, I came across your site and wanted to say thanks for providing a great resource to the mental health community. <br /><br />I thought you might find this bipolar disorder fact sheet helpful for your readers, as it shows symptoms, treatment and stats about the disorder: http://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/fact-sheet<br /><br />Naturally, I’d be delighted if you share this embeddable graphic on http://krisxing.blogspot.com/2012/05/bipolar.html , and/or share it with your followers on social. Either way, keep up the great work !<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Nicole Lascurain | Assistant Marketing Manager<br />p: 415-281-3100 | e: nicole.lascurain@healthline.com<br /><br />Healthline<br />660 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107<br />www.healthline.com | @HealthlineNicole.lascurain@healthline.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-87710574910984045002015-01-19T16:03:03.083+09:002015-01-19T16:03:03.083+09:00Congratulations, and my very best wishes to you Kr...Congratulations, and my very best wishes to you Kristin. I have enjoyed peeking into your life, thank you for sharing your adventures. I'm sure your life will still be interesting, though maybe not in such a dramatic way. You will experience all the joys and challenges that your multi-cultural marriage and family will bring! I bet you'll have some notworthy things to say in the future, and I hope you feel willing to share them with the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-18465084499245646952014-08-30T05:26:21.192+09:002014-08-30T05:26:21.192+09:00I guess their dental habit is something that every...I guess their dental habit is something that everyone in the world should become accustomed with. I’m glad that you seemed to be one those who are adapting to that practice. It’s no wonder you have a beautiful and healthy set of pearly whites. Keep it up!<br /><br /><a href="http://peakfamdentist.blogspot.com/2014/02/an-albuquerque-dentist-advises-extreme.html" rel="nofollow">Weston Wadlington @ Peak Family Dentistry</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189640116565884187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-50355784813413187472014-06-25T06:17:25.781+09:002014-06-25T06:17:25.781+09:00with great interest and much yearing i will now jo...with great interest and much yearing i will now join you on your adventure to south korea. i wish i would have had the strength and courage and forsite to have made such a decision in my younger life. and i wish to thank you for sharing your adventures on the web it allows me to live through you on a adventure i would love to take my self. <br />a friend in louisianaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896866343594338160.post-39301826442703123132014-06-25T06:11:09.705+09:002014-06-25T06:11:09.705+09:00thank you for giving me a insite into your return ...thank you for giving me a insite into your return to america. i would like to experience korea as you have done. but most likely will not unless i come into alot of money. having just found this blog it is my next best solution. and i thank you to allow me to live a second chance through you in your life in korea. i love the land and love the history and the people.<br /><br />a friend in louisianaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com